My Summer at Blair

I’ve hinted on previous posts about my previous job as a broadcaster for the Long Beach Armada in the summer of 2008. In writing about my 3rd favorite sports movie “Major League” I described how that movie had a personal connection with my experience that summer. I only touched on a handful of events from that summer. Now I want to share the rest with you.

I got a phone call from my broadcast partner and friend J.R. Reed as I was leaving the campus of Long Beach City College. He asked if I would like to be the play-by-play voice of the Long Beach Armada baseball team. I was stunned and all I could immediately get out was “sure.” Me and J.R. met with the general manager at the time Steve Bash who had a lot of ideas for the upcoming season. I can’t remember them all, but suffice it to say it was going to be a fun summer.

The first games we were to broadcast were two exhibition games against the Chinese National team. Yes, the same team that would play in the Summer Olympics that very year. Now if your first broadcast for a semi-professional baseball team is when they play the Chinese National team, how are you going to pronounce those names?

Thanks to a MLB representative from the Chinese team, he helped me go over the names before the games. Quick funny note. One of the players names was spelled Wong Wei. It was pronounced like you see it, wong-way. Thankfully he didn’t play in either game. It would have been hard not to laugh on-air.

Me and J.R. interviewed the manager for China Jim Lefebvre before Game 1. Yes the same Dodgers second baseman from 1965-72. That was one of many great conversations that summer. During the games I was getting praise from another MLB representative in China listening to the games. He was the head of baseball development in China at that time. That made my day.

Another great thing during that series was a silent auction taking place at Blair Field, the home stadium for the Armada. Before the series there was a devastating earthquake that hit China. All the proceeds during that auction were to be donated to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. Lots of cool items were auctioned off and in total over $6,000 was raised from the auction. A great way to start the summer.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers and co-MVP of the 1981 World Series Steve Yeager was the manager of the Armada. They had a slew of former major league players. Jerome Williams, David Parrish, Cleatus Davidson, Tony Torcato and Nick Bierbrodt. There were some other players that I had heard of that didn’t pan out with their respective major league clubs, but they were talented nonetheless.

I had a special connection with Bierbrodt. He and I both went to Robert A. Millikan high school. At different times of course. He went on to be the Arizona Diamondbacks first pick ever in 1996. His career didn’t pan out in Arizona, but he started to get back on track in Tampa Bay in 2001.

Unfortunately his career and life took a turn for the worst. This I didn’t know, but he said that while he was in a drive thru in Tampa Bay, he was shot twice while sitting in his car. It was a case of mistaken identity. Thankfully Nick recovered from that, but he wasn’t able to stay in the majors for very long.

The first time I met him I told him that I was a fellow Millikan alumni. He asked what year did I graduate. Now before I give you his answer, I have fooled some people into thinking that I’m older than I actually am. I said 2004. Nick responded, “s*** you look older.” I laughed and said I get that a lot. Getting to know Nick was great. He’s played all over the world and had some great stories to tell.

Now Yeager as many of you probably know is a character in his own right. I won’t reveal a lot, but the funniest thing he ever said during that summer was on a road trip. Guys were complaining about the bus, the long road trips, bad hotels. Yeager turned around and snapped, “hey, you don’t like it. play better and move up.” At the time it was very true. Afterwards it was hilarious because he timed it perfectly. Just when the complaints started to get louder he knew it was time to strike.

Another time was when they were playing in Chico, California. The clubhouse attendant put the Armada’s pants, which were white with the teams shirts, which were red in the washer together. Very dumb indeed, but Yeager’s reaction was a profanity laced tirade that I can’t repeat here. I know my broadcast partner J.R. has the raw footage. Ask him nicely and tell him I sent you.

Perhaps the coolest part about being with Yeager was on the road trip to Yuma, Arizona. Me and J.R. went across the street from the hotel to Carls Jr. Yeager happened to be there eating his lunch and we asked if we could join him. We talked about the state of the team and things like that at first, but then we asked about his playing days.

The most interesting answer he gave was his favorite ballpark. Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. He did play one year with the Seattle Mariners before retiring. But I figured he would say Dodger Stadium or a National League park. He said the Kingdome wasn’t bad either. It was interesting insight coming from him.

Quick side story. After a home game I was waiting for Yeager to finish signing baseballs outside the clubhouse to ask him about the upcoming road trip. As I waited a young boy handed me his baseball and asked if I could sign it. I replied saying that I wasn’t one of the players I was the broadcaster. He said he wanted to get everyones autograph. I was taken back. I gladly signed the baseball and could hear J.R. in the distance yelling, “look at Wes signing baseballs.” That was my best moment being apart of the Armada.

Now how could I leave such a great job. I mean after all it is my dream to broadcast for a professional baseball team. Well, without mentioning any names the way things were within the league and the franchise it was a toxic environment. The league owned the Armada and a handful of the other teams. They were more concerned about the bottom line rather than the game. People were being fired left and right in the organization. It was chaotic at times.

Case in point. The first game of a double header was delayed 45 minutes because they only had one case of baseballs. I was honest and told the listeners why the game was delayed. Why try to hide it? The last game on the road trip to Yuma was played in El Centro, California. They didn’t have anyone to sing the national anthem before the game so it was let go. I was a bit disappointed, but I kind of expected it with the lack of organization. What I didn’t expect was the game to be delayed in the middle of the second inning to sing the national anthem. Yes, it happened.

Another thing happened on a personal note. As a writer the one sin that I understand you must never do when writing is plagiarize someone else’s work. I make sure to put quotes when needed and put my own twist on topics, but I never word for word copy someones else’s work.

Unfortunately for someone on the Long Beach Armada staff they didn’t see any problem with that. My final game recap was taken down and basically copied as his own. When confronted he said there was a part of the story that needed to be clarified. That was fine, but it was my post and I can clarify my own work. Basically a player that went head first into the wall at Blair Field was taken in an ambulance off the field after the game. I didn’t speculate on his injuries, but wrote what was being said on the field at the time. That was the clarification he was referring to.

I was going to go to the league office and get him fired, but one thought came through my head. Would it really matter to them? As mentioned before, the league only cared about the bottom line. This person who plagiarized my work was making them money by selling tickets and doing things off the field to make them money. What was I doing in their eyes? Broadcasting the games. That was it. I was sure to let him know that what he did was wrong and left it at that.

The Armada would only last for one more season as the league sued the City of Long Beach over the use of Blair Field. Smart move I know. The league has since folded and combined with two other independent leagues. I am still looking for another job in that field and in radio as well. I do have a job to pay the bills, but I would love to get back into that environment again. I have learned a lot from that summer. I plan on taking that experience to better myself and to continue to achieve that dream of mine.

Never will I forget that time when the Armada won four straight games via the walk-off celebration. Never will I forget the players and coaches of the 2008 Long Beach Armada. Never will I forget the fantastic media members and press box staff that were there watching every game with us. Never will I forget the fans who supported the team and staff that worked their butts off to show how the game should be played. Never will I forget that fantastic summer at beautiful Blair Field in Long Beach, California.

Three’s Company at Chavez Ravine

What is to become of the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise? Baseball’s commissioner Bud Selig (pictured in the middle) has decided to use his power and take control of the franchise from current owner Frank McCourt (pictured left). Frank has been in the middle of a nasty and public divorce with his wife Jamie (pictured right) the last two years which has left the Dodgers as nothing more than pawn in their marital squabble.

Now with that announcement came some surprise from Bud’s move. It doesn’t happen very often that baseball’s commissioner will take control of a franchise. The last time it happened was with the Montreal Expos who were then moved to Washington D.C. and purchased by a new owner. The surprise is that it’s the Dodgers of all teams that has to be saved by baseball.

To be an owner in baseball, it’s a very hard thing if you can imagine. Mark Cuban is called by many to be the best owner in all of sports for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Just look at that franchises’ record before Cuban arrived and since. He has made two attempts to purchase a major league baseball team, but was denied both times. Those two teams were the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers.

If baseball wants to deny a person like Mark Cuban to be apart of their club. Then why did the McCourts get approved? By all accounts they weren’t the ideal purchaser of the Dodgers back in 2004. They made an attempt to purchase the Boston Red Sox in 2002, but folks in Boston knew their history and financial dealings and wanted no part of it. Bud Selig saw it differently apparently as did the rest of baseball. They were invited unanimously into the club.

Of course it wasn’t all bad. The renovations to Dodger Stadium are nice. To fix up a historic ballpark is commendable no matter who does it. Keeping Vin Scully happy is always a good thing, although I’m not sure how happy he’s been the past two years. Allowing general manager Ned Colletti to still make moves to improve the team through all the turmoil has to be acknowledged.

Unfortunately the bad far outweighs the good here. The McCourts are being investigated by the IRS for tax evasion. The kind where they used team-related funds for personal use and didn’t pay tax on it. Hollywood definitely went to Jamie McCourt’s head with a monthly salary of $32,012 for clothing and jewelry of all things. The key word there is “monthly” in that fact from their divorce case.

The funniest thing was they hired some guy named Vladimir Shpunt during the 2004 season to, wait for it, transmit positive energy from Boston to the Dodgers. Supposedly Vlad “discovered that his hands could generate much more energy than the average person’s.” This according to the Los Angeles Times. Now he might have helped in 2004 since the Dodgers did make the playoffs, but the following year they lost 91 games. It goes to show you that you can’t always count on those who claim to be the next Rasputin.

Perhaps the worst part of their financial squandering is that another investigation showed that a member of the Dodgers front office received $400,000 a year from the Dodgers charity. If you do the math that’s one-fourth of the entire Dodgers Dream Foundation entire budget. I’m sure that money was put right back into the organization in someway.

Now I’m not going to put blame at the feet of the McCourts for what happened to Brian Stow on Opening Day. There has been a problem with some stupid thugs at Dodger Stadium for a long time. I would attend more Dodgers games if for one I was a Dodgers fan and two if I felt safe. Most of the time I didn’t. And I wasn’t wearing a hat or shirt of the opposing team. But you have to think that you would have someone hired as your head of security before Opening Day right?

I will admit that I was a Dodgers fan when I started watching baseball. That was the iconic team in Southern California and in all of baseball. Once the O’Malley family began to sell the Dodgers, it was never the same. Great players were coming through their system, but then were traded off before they reached their prime e.g, Mike Piazza, Pedro Martinez, Paul Konerko.

I would point out the awful contracts the Dodgers have dished out, but that would be too easy. The worst part for me is what the ownership of the Fox Entertainment Group was doing to former players. Mike Scioscia was easily penciled in by many to be the newest manager of the Dodgers after the 1999 season. However ownership and perhaps the worst general manager in all of baseball at the time Kevin Malone wanted to go in another direction. The result was no playoff appearances until 2004 and Scioscia was hired by the crosstown rival Angels and won a World Series in 2002.

There has been a serious problem at Chavez Ravine. The fan base is one of the best in baseball and they apparently have had enough. Attendance is projected to be at its lowest in a decade. A lot can be attributed to the state of the economy, but the McCourt divorce and the insane ticket prices have something to do with that to. There are some value seats at Dodger Stadium, but the view isn’t for everybody.

I don’t have a person in mind that can turn this around for the “Boys in Blue.” What I do know is that the person has to have a sense of how to run a baseball team. Let the baseball people do their job and you make sure they can do it. They have to know what the priorities are which include security, a balanced budget and reasonable pricing. Bud Selig made a mistake and is trying to right that mistake. Dodger Stadium is a great place to watch baseball and it can be again.

2011 MLB World Series & Awards Predicitions

MLB Awards

NL MVP – SS Troy Tulowitzki Colorado Rockies

He follows up what his teammate (Carlos Gonzalez) started last season.

AL MVP – 1B Justin Morneau Minnesota Twins

His return also brings with him a second MVP trophy.

NL Cy Young – Roy Halladay Philadelphia Phillies

Is there anyone else that can do what he does and not win the Cy Young?

AL Cy Young – Jered Weaver Los Angeles Angels

He lead all of baseball in strikeouts and will lead in wins this year.

NL Rookie of the Year – 1B Brandon Belt San Francisco Giants

His bat will be a big reason why the Giants repeat as division champs.

AL Rookie of the Year – P Kyle Drabek Toronto Blue Jays

His long awaited debut will bring 10-15 wins and the first of many trophies.

NL Manager of the Year – Bruce Bochy San Francisco Giants

Keeping the team focused will lead to another division crown for Bochy.

AL Manager of the Year – Ozzie Guillen Chicago White Sox

Some new players will get Chicago out of the tough American League and back in the postseason.

Postseason Projections

AL Division Winners – Red Sox, Twins, Angels

AL Wild Card – White Sox

NL Division Winners – Phillies, Reds, Giants

NL Wild Card – Rockies

ALCS – Red Sox vs. White Sox

NLCS – Giants vs. Phillies

World Series – Red Sox vs. Phillies

I hate to go with the crowd, but the Red Sox and Phillies seems to be the only option for me. Boston has a deep staff and a decent bullpen. The Phillies have their stellar rotation and a capable closer. Boston’s hitting is greatly improved with the additions of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. Philadelphia even without Chase Utley for half the season still can hit with the best of them. Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins will have to have improved seasons for the Phillies to get back to the World Series.

The Twins, Angels and White Sox have good pitching, but their lineups are weak at certain spots. The Reds and Rockies don’t have the pitching, but can keep up with the Phillies bats. We all know the Giants have the pitching to match Philadelphia, but can the same bats that won them a title do it again?

The other teams will fall short this year.

The Phillies signed Cliff Lee for one reason. To win the World Series. The Red Sox signed Crawford and Gonzalez for one reason too. A championship is all that matters to these teams. When you have that motivation to go along with the talent, it’s hard to go against those two to win a title. The Phillies will beat the Red Sox and win their second title in four years.

National League East

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. Philadelphia Phillies
They are the clear favorites to not only win the East, but the NL Pennant to.
2. Atlanta Braves
The Bobby Cox era has ended, but the winning ways should continue.
3. Florida Marlins
They made some key additions now they need a big season from Hanley.
4. New York Mets
They’ve reshaped the front office which will result in a lot of growing pains.
5. Washington Nationals
Signing Jayson Werth shows they want to win, but where’s the pitching?

Players to Watch: P Roy Halladay, P Cliff Lee, P Roy Oswalt, P Cole Hamels Philadelphia Phillies
Not since the Baltimore Orioles rotation of Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar and Pat Dobson has a team had four starters each win at least 20 games. That was back in 1971. I am in no way saying that it will happen with these four in Philadelphia, but as fans we can still dream big right? Halladay is a sure thing to get 20 wins. He proved it last year and with another Cy Young award to his credit. Lee can win 20 games, but I don’t think that was his motivation for coming back to the Phillies. Oswalt was stellar in his half a season with the Phillies last year. In a full season he can easily repeat that performance. Hamels was the future ace after their World Series title in 2008. And that was without Halladay, Lee and Oswalt. Now he’s the best fourth starter in baseball. The defending champion Giants still have the best overall pitching, but the Phillies have matched them on paper and figure they will meet again on the way to the World Series.

Best Acquisition: 2B Dan Uggla Atlanta Braves
Obviously Cliff Lee signing with Philadelphia was the talk of the free agency period, but the best move via trade was in Atlanta. Uggla is one of the best hitting second baseman in baseball. Not the greatest fielder, but it isn’t a great concern for the Braves. They acquired him for his bat. It was surprising to see the Florida Marlins deal one of their best hitters to a division rival, but Florida was put in a no-win situation. He wasn’t going to sign an extension with them and they had to act. Atlanta gets a good hitter who has tremendous power to all fields. Atlanta was able to sign him to an extension after they acquired him. They hope that now that he is set financially that he will continue to produce on the field. A change of scenery might be just what Uggla needed.

New Kids on the Block: 1B Freddie Freeman & P Craig Kimbrel Atlanta Braves
Besides getting a good hitter in Uggla, the Braves have two new rookies ready to make the leap to the majors. Freeman is good friends with last years rookie sensation Jason Heyward. Both have stormed through the Braves minor league system and are the new faces of the franchise going forward. Freeman is a good fielder, but his bat is what intrigues the Braves the most. The Braves haven’t had a top notch hitting first baseman since Fred McGriff in the mid 90s. He should fit the bill going forward along with Heyward in the middle of their lineup. Kimbrel is poised to be the future for the Braves closer position. He will probably be in a platoon role this with Jonny Venters being the lefthanded option, but make no mistake that Kimbrel has the stuff to be the everyday closer. The hope is that giving him a year to get comfortable won’t affect his psyche, but rather help him be the full-time closer going forward. The Braves have always had great arms come through their system and they hope it continues with Kimbrel.

Phillies Lineup

1. SS Jimmy Rollins

.243 AVG 8 HR 41 RBI

2. 3B Placido Polanco

.298 AVG 6 HR 52 RBI

3. LF Raul Ibanez

.275 AVG 16 HR 83 RBI

4. 1B Ryan Howard

.276 AVG 31 HR 108 RBI

5. RF Ben Francisco

.268 AVG 6 HR 28 RBI

6. CF Shane Victorino

.259 AVG 18 HR 69 RBI

7. C Carlos Ruiz

.302 AVG 8 HR 53 RBI

8. 2B Wilson Valdez

.258 AVG 4 HR 35 RBI

A lot is riding on the Phillies lineup with the expected success of their pitching staff this season. Rollins doesn’t have to play up to his MVP year of 2007, but the Phillies would like to see his average at or near the .300 mark this year. Polanco was the Phillies most consistent hitter last year and that doesn’t bode well for them this year. He is a sound defender, but the Phillies will have trouble winning if Polanco doesn’t continue his production. Ibanez will be tasked with trying to replace what Jayson Werth brought to the Phillies lineup. After a career year in 2009, Ibanez fell off quite a bit last year. He is still a good hitter, but realistically the Phillies would like to see his run production increase. Howard has a tough task this year. With Werth gone and Chase Utley out for at least half the season, Howard has to get off to a good start. He like Rollins doesn’t have to play at a MVP level, but he has to do better than his 31 HR 108 RBI 2010 season. Francisco is charged with replacing Werth in right field. He is a better defender than Werth and can potentially produce at the level Werth was with the Phillies. Victorino would be batting higher in the lineup if he was a more consistent hitter. He is a good run producer at the bottom of the order and that’s where manager Charlie Manuel feels he’s at his best. Ruiz is a good game manager and isn’t too bad a hitter as well. He is one of, if not the best clutch hitter in the Phillies lineup. Valdez is a solid defender and will be given the first chance to play for the injured Chase Utley. No one expects a lot from Valdez, but he could have a good year.

Bench

1B/OF Ross Gload

.281 AVG 6 HR 22 RBI

OF John Mayberry

.267 AVG 15 HR 65 RBI (AAA stats)

OF Domonic Brown

.327 AVG 20 HR 68 RBI (AA and AAA stats)

The bench is a little thin with the injury to Utley and the departure of Werth. Gload is still a capable pinch hitter and fill in at certain spots in the lineup. Mayberry had a good spring and earned a spot on the roster. He could see playing time if Francisco falters early in right, but Mayberry’s bat will be a plus off the bench. Brown will miss the first part of the season, but he is the heir apparent in right field. When he’s healthy that’s where he will see the majority of his playing time. He’s a potential five tool player for the Phillies future.

Rotation

1. Roy Halladay

21-11 2.44 ERA

2. Cliff Lee*

12-9 3.18 ERA

3. Roy Oswalt

13-13 2.76 ERA

4. Cole Hamels

12-11 3.06 ERA

5. Joe Blanton

9-6 4.82 ERA

There isn’t any weaknesses in this rotation. None whatsoever. Halladay coming off his second Cy Young season and first with Philadelphia in which he pitched a perfect game during the regular season and a no-hitter in his first postseason start. Not a bad year at all. Lee is the most consistent strike thrower in the game today. The Phillies bullpen will take comfort knowing that Halladay and Lee will go at least 7 innings for most of their starts. Oswalt was fantastic in his two month stint with the Phillies. They hope over a full season he can continue to play up to that standard like he did so many years with Houston. Hamels is still considered a top notch starter by many, but being the fourth starter isn’t a bad thing when you follow three Cy Young contenders. Hamels is still a workhorse and if he stays healthy they will be hard to beat if they should make the playoffs. Blanton is a good option at the back end. He has struggled to keep his ERA low since being acquired from Oakland, but he does go at least 6 innings almost every start for the Phillies.

Setup

Ryan Madson

6-2 2.55 ERA

Closer

Brad Lidge

27 SV 2.96 ERA

More bad news came down for Philadelphia when it was announced that Brad Lidge was also going to start the season on the DL with the likes of Chase Utley. On paper it’s a good thing since they have such a deep rotation, but it doesn’t looks so good if they need someone to close out a one run game. Madson is capable to fill in for Lidge. He’s done it before, but the Phillies don’t want to overwork him like in years past. Their depth isn’t as good in the bullpen as in other areas of the roster, but the Phillies are hoping that Lidge won’t be down for long and be fully healthy for the stretch run.

Braves Lineup

1. LF Martin Prado

.307 AVG 15 HR 66 RBI

2. CF Nate McLouth

.190 AVG 6 HR 24 RBI

3. 3B Chipper Jones

.265 AVG 10 HR 46 RBI

4. C Brain McCann

.269 AVG 21 HR 77 RBI

5. RF Jason Heyward

.277 AVG 18 HR 72 RBI

6. 2B Dan Uggla*

.287 AVG 33 HR 105 RBI

7. 1B Freddie Freeman

.319 AVG 18 HR 87 RBI (AAA stats)

8. SS Alex Gonzalez

.250 AVG 23 HR 88 RBI

Atlanta would love to get another career year out of Prado. Was the everyday second baseman until Chipper Jones went out with a knee injury. He was moved over to third base and now this year is the starting left fielder. The Braves have a keeper in the consistent Prado. McLouth is still an elite fielder, but there are some concerns with his bat. Injuries slowed him down last year, but the Braves won’t have much success if McLouth isn’t productive and healthy. Amazingly Jones has fully recovered from his knee injury and Atlanta hopes that he can continue to produce at a high level. He didn’t want to go out that way and will have a chance to go on his terms. McCann is an elite hitter and a good defensive catcher. He has a good feel for the pitching staff and is their best hitter right now. Heyward was off to a fast start last year, but a hand injury slowed him down during the summer. It was hard for him to get back on track, but his talent still hasn’t been reached yet and that’s a scary thought. Uggla provides much needed protection from the right side. He’s a competitor and will light a fire for the Braves in their quest to get past the Phillies. Freeman was an elite hitter in the minors and will be given a chance to show it this year in the majors. He and Heyward are the future of the Braves lineup and they both must live up to those expectations. Gonzalez can still field his position as good as any. Once he was acquired last year his production at the plate dropped a little, but he can still hit for power. Deceptive for being the eighth hitter.

Bench

INF/OF Eric Hinske

.256 AVG 11 HR 51 RBI

INF/OF Brooks Conrad

.250 AVG 8 HR 33 RBI

C David Ross

.289 AVG 2 HR 28 RBI

Atlanta has a winner in Hinske. He goes about his business knowing that at some point he will play in the game. Either as a pinch hitter, defensive replacement or the spot start to give a regular a day off. Conrad was given an opportunity to play and didn’t disappoint for the Braves last year. His defensive mistakes against the Giants in the playoffs will be hard to live down, but Conrad hasn’t backed away from that experience. Ross is a good backup to McCann. Injuries are constantly creeping up, but when he plays the Braves don’t lose a lot both offensively and defensively.

Rotation

1. Tim Hudson

17-9 2.83 ERA

2. Derek Lowe

16-12 4.00 ERA

3. Tommy Hanson

10-11 3.33 ERA

4. Jair Jurrjens

7-6 4.64 ERA

5. Brandon Beachy

5-1 1.73 ERA (AA and AAA stats)

Hudson had a great bounce back year. It reminded folks of why he was considered one of the best pitchers in the game with his near unhittable splitter. Lowe is a gamer and wasn’t outmatched in most of his starts. He got better as the season progressed and was great in the postseason for the Braves. Hanson needs to have a bounce back year like Hudson did. He is still considered the future ace of the staff, but he has to stop giving up the big home run. Jurrjens was roughed up last year and injuries didn’t help either. He’s a top of the rotation type of pitcher and the Braves will need him to compete for a playoff spot. Beachy had a good spring and will be given the fifth spot in the rotation. He has good stuff, but isn’t considered to be higher than a third starter. Atlanta is counting on two veterans and two young guns to get them back into the playoffs.

Setup

Jonny Venters

4-4 1.95 ERA

Closer

Craig Kimbrel

1 SV 0.44 ERA

Bill Wagner decided to retire and that leaves the Braves with a lefthanded and righthanded duo to fill the void. Venters is the lefthanded option who will probably be given most of the opportunities at the beginning of the season. Kimbrel will eventually be the full time closer, but the Braves want to ease him along. Atlanta has a good future in place for the bullpen, but it might hurt them in the long run if they continue with the closer committee during the stretch run.

Marlins Lineup

1. CF Chris Coghlan

.268 AVG 5 HR 28 RBI

2. 2B Omar Infante*

.321 AVG 8 HR 47 RBI

3. SS Hanley Ramirez

.300 AVG 21 HR 76 RBI

4. RF Mike Stanton

.259 AVG 22 HR 59 RBI

5. 1B Gaby Sanchez

.273 AVG 19 HR 85 RBI

6. LF Logan Morrison

.283 AVG 2 HR 18 RBI

7. C John Buck*

.281 AVG 20 HR 66 RBI

8. 3B Wes Helms

.220 AVG 4 HR 39 RBI

A lot of shuffling, but the lineup will stay intact for the most part. Coghlan is the now playing center field and will be the leadoff hitter as well. He suffered through a sophomore slump last year and a freak injury ended his season prematurely. Florida needs the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year to play up to those standards. Infante isn’t expected to replace Uggla’s bat, but he will provide needed versatility for the Marlins. He was a big part of the Braves success last year and Florida hopes they can achieve the same with him this year. Ramirez is being tasked as “the guy” for the Marlins. The face of the franchise. He has to start playing and acting like it more often. He is far too talented to let it slip away. Stanton is another in a long line of players to come through their system and have instant success. His power is unmatched and his defensive skills are starting to come around. Sanchez was a contender for the NL Rookie of the Year award last year. Easily was the Marlins most consistent hitter and should continue his rise with Morrison and Buck behind him. Morrison can really hit the ball. His defense is at a high level, but the Marlins want to see him be more agressive at the plate. Buck had a career year at the plate. They signed him to a three year deal with hopes that it won’t be a one year wonder. Helms will hold down the third base job until top prospect Matt Dominguez is ready. Helms is better as a pinch hitter at this point in his career, but he should keep the job warm for Dominguez.

Bench

INF/OF Emilio Bonifacio

.261 AVG 0 HR 10 RBI

INF Greg Dobbs*

.196 AVG 5 HR 15 RBI

OF Dewayne Wise*

.250 AVG 3 HR 14 RBI

Bonifacio is their super utility player, but doesn’t offer a lot of options with his bat. His speed is good, but he has struggled since his career year in 2009. Dobbs is another pinch hitter for the Marlins. Not an everyday player by any means, but can play in a pinch if need be. Wise has had trouble staying with one team for very long, but the Marlins have had players like him have good years with a one year tryout in Florida.

Rotation

1. Josh Johnson

11-6 2.30 ERA

2. Ricky Nolasco

14-9 4.51 ERA

3. Javier Vazquez*

10-10 5.32 ERA

4. Anibal Sanchez

13-12 3.55 ERA

5. Chris Volstad

12-9 4.58 ERA

With more wins and if he didn’t get hurt in September, Johnson probably would’ve been a strong contender for the NL Cy Young award. Florida has a legitimate ace in Johnson and it would be easy to pencil him in for the ERA title or pretty close to it. Nolasco had a nice year and is finally living up to his potential as a top of the rotation pitcher. Vazquez once again did not make it in New York with the Yankees and will try to get back on track in the National League. The Marlins are banking on him to be a stable force in the middle of the rotation. Sanchez has struggled with control and injuries for most of his career. He still is a talented pitcher, but time is running out for him to put it all together. Volstad is getting closer to getting a higher spot in the rotation. He is still too inconsistent between starts to be given that chance, but the Marlins know they have another talented righthander in Volstad.

Setup

Clay Hensley

3-4 2.16 ERA

Closer

Leo Nunez

30 SV 3.46 ERA

They might have to find a replacement during the season if Nunez falters. He wasn’t the same as the year before. His velocity was going down and his control was in flux. Hensley was doing a great job setting up Nunez, but the ninth inning was turning into a problem fast. The Marlins know what they have with these two, but they might have to find a new one if they are still in the playoff race at the trade deadline.

Mets Lineup

1. SS Jose Reyes

.282 AVG 11 HR 54 RBI

2. CF Angel Pagan

.290 AVG 11 HR 69 RBI

3. 3B David Wright

.283 AVG 29 HR 103 RBI

4. RF Carlos Beltran

.255 AVG 7 HR 27 RBI

5. LF Jason Bay

.259 AVG 6 HR 47 RBI

6. 1B Ike Davis

.264 AVG 19 HR 71 RBI

7. 2B Brad Emaus

.290 AVG 15 HR 75 RBI (AA and AAA stats)
8. C Josh Thole
.277 AVG 3 HR 17 RBI

The Mets have a lot of players that need to live up to their potential this year for them to get back into contention. Reyes is getting back to that potential after a strong 2010 campaign. Health is always a concern with him, but playing in the spacious confines of Citi Field will only help Reyes’ production. Pagan was put into a tough spot last year with Beltran out, but he responded well and will be the full time center fielder this year. Wright continues to produce with an outmatched lineup around him, but if Beltran and Bay can stay healthy this year then Wright should continue to put up All-Star numbers. Beltran started out his stint in New York as well as anyone thought he would, but injuries have started the whispers of “bust” in the Big Apple. If he can have a relatively productive year those whispers will subside. Bay on the other hand might be hearing it more if he has another 2010 season. The injury bug did get to him, but he didn’t adjust well to the new ballpark and his defensive skills seemed to have diminished as well. Davis was the lone bright spot in the Mets lineup. They’ve been searching for a replacement for Carlos Delgado and they believe they have in Davis. He showed surprising power and his defensive skills could get him some votes for a Gold Glove or two. Emaus was chosen to replace the disappointing Luis Castillo at second. Rather than go through one more year of a slumping veteran the Mets want to see what they have in Emaus. The time is now for the youth movement to take shape. The same goes for Thole being the new catcher. He has shown potential for handling a pitching staff. The Mets don’t expect another Mike Piazza at the plate, but they want to see him produce at a high level.

Bench

C Ronny Paulino*
.259 AVG 4 HR 37 RBI
INF/OF Scott Hairston*
.210 AVG 10 HR 36 RBI
INF Luis Hernandez
.250 AVG 2 HR 6 RBI

Paulino is a viable backup to the youngster Thole. He has decent pop and is a plus defender behind the plate. Hairston is one of the best utility players in the game. He will see the majority of his playing time in the outfield, but with the question mark at second base he could see time there also. Hernandez is a speed option off the bench. A good defender though he does struggle to produce at the plate.

Rotation

1. Mike Pelfrey
15-9 3.66 ERA
2. Jonathon Niese
9-10 4.20 ERA
3. R.A. Dickey
11-9 2.84 ERA
4. Chris Capuano*
4-4 3.95 ERA
5. Chris Young*
2-0 0.90 ERA

The big name missing is Johan Santana. The Mets hope he can recover from his shoulder surgery by the All-Star break. They don’t want to rush him, but a lot will be riding on his arm for their future success. Pelfrey finally showed the potential that everyone in the organization knew he had. What remains to be seen is if he can handle the staff ace position until Santana can return. Niese is a good complement to Pelfrey. The tall lefthander has good stuff, but is prone to giving up a lot of runs during crucial points in the game. Dickey was the best kept secret in baseball last year. He’s mastered the knuckleball and was the Mets best chance of winning a game last year. Capuano and Young are two veterans who have struggled with injuries all their career. Both don’t have much to lose, but with the lack of depth in the minor leagues, the Mets can afford to give them a chance this year. Young has the best stuff and Capuano is starting to become Tom Glavine like in his approach to pitching. Both should do fine in the pitcher friendly Citi Field.

Setup

Jason Isringhausen*
0-1 2.25 ERA (2009 stats)

Closer

Francisco Rodriguez
25 SV 2.20 ERA

There was a major problem in the Mets bullpen last year. With all the off field distractions from K-Rod, it led to their demise at the end of the season. Rodriguez is still an elite closer, but unfortunately it appears that the bright lights are starting to get to him on and off the field. Isringhausen isn’t going to be counted on to save the bullpen, but the Mets hope that he can stabilize the innings leading up to Rodriguez. It’s a work in progress with the Mets bullpen, but they know they have a closer who can get them the win.

Nationals Lineup

1. SS Ian Desmond

.269 AVG 10 HR 65 RBI

2. RF Jayson Werth*

.296 AVG 27 HR 85 RBI

3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman

.307 AVG 25 HR 85 RBI

4. 1B Adam LaRoche*

.261 AVG 25 HR 100 RBI

5. LF Mike Morse

.289 AVG 15 HR 41 RBI

6. CF Rick Ankiel*

.232 AVG 6 HR 24 RBI

7. C Ivan Rodriguez

.266 AVG 4 HR 49 RBI

8. 2B Danny Espinosa

.268 AVG 22 HR 69 RBI (AAA stats)

Desmond is becoming everything the Nationals had hoped for as their shortstop. He is a superb defender and he had a great year at the plate. The hope is him and Espinosa will form a great duo up the middle. Werth is one of the newest 100 million dollar players in baseball. With that comes great expectations. Fair or not the Nationals expect the same production from him as with the Phillies that last few years. Zimmerman is the face of the franchise. Long before Stephen Strasburg or Bryce Harper he has been the one constant for them. Even without adequate protection Zimmerman has still been able to be one of the best run producers in the game. LaRoche has had trouble finding a home, but make no mistake he is a good hitter. He won’t match what Adam Dunn brought to the lineup, but he is a viable replacement. Morse was great in a bench role last year and was an easy choice to get a starting spot this year. He has tremendous power potential and can sometimes play first base too. Ankiel is an okay hitter, but he will see playing time for his defense. His pitching days are long over, but he still has a great arm for a center fielder. Rodriguez is still able to play catcher at this stage in his career. It’s a good thing for Washington’s relatively young pitching staff. Whether he will continue to play enough to get closer to 3,000 hits is another question. Espinosa is being handed the second baseman position going into the start of the season. He has a lot of potential as an elite hitter. His defense is suspect, but he has room for improvement.

Bench

INF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr.*

.244 AVG 10 HR 50 RBI

C Wilson Ramos

.258 AVG 8 HR 38 RBI

OF Roger Bernadina

.246 AVG 11 HR 47 RBI

Hairston will likely be in a platoon with Ankiel in center field. He can play all over the field though. Washington was fortunate to sign someone who can play multiple positions and is a pretty good base stealer also. Ramos is pegged as the catcher of the future after being acquired from Minnesota for closer Matt Capps last season. He should see plenty of playing time, but if Rodriguez’s quest for 3,000 hits gets in the way, it could be a problem. Bernadina was okay as a starter last year. Washington hopes a smaller role will get his confidence back. He can still be a potentially good hitter.

Rotation

1. Livan Hernandez

10-12 3.66 ERA

2. John Lannan

8-8 4.65 ERA

3. Jason Marquis

2-9 6.60 ERA

4. Jordan Zimmerman

1-2 4.94 ERA

5. Tom Gorzelanny*

7-9 4.09 ERA

Hernandez was a stable force at the top of the rotation. The only problem is there wasn’t much else for the rest of the Nationals rotation. He should do well and be a good role model for the youngsters trying to grab a spot. Lannan is the teams best option for the second spot. He doesn’t have top of the rotation stuff, but he is crafty and gets outs. Marquis was a major disappointment. Injuries shortened his season, but when he did play he was all over the place. He should bounce back being that he has done it before. Zimmerman is the second best starter they have. The one problem is that they can’t have Strasburg and Zimmerman together for a full season. Hopefully Zimmerman can stay healthy and when Strasburg returns next year they form a formidable duo for the future. Gorzelanny is a lefthander who has had trouble with the big innings. The Pirates and Cubs were quick to deal him, but Washington thinks with their pitcher friendly ballpark he should have a better chance to succeed.

Setup

Tyler Clippard

11-8 3.07 ERA

Closer

Drew Storen

5 SV 3.58 ERA

The Nationals have a good plan set for the bullpen. Storen should be the closer going forward. He has the stuff and the attitude is there also. Washington just needs to ease him in and not overwork him. Clippard had a career year. He was their best pitcher even when they had Matt Capps as their closer. Clippard should continue to be the setup man to Storen going forward.

American League East

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. Boston Red Sox
After winning the award for best offseason, Boston now looks for the one in October.
2. New York Yankees
Their lineup still commands respect as well as their pen, but the starting pitching remains a weakness.
3. Toronto Blue Jays
They need breakout years from others not named Bautista.
4. Baltimore Orioles
Will having Buck Showalter for a full season result in a winning record?
5. Tampa Bay Rays
The offseason upheaval has left the Rays to lean on Longoria even more.

Player to Watch: P Jonathan Papelbon Boston Red Sox
You could argue that he is the most successful closer the Red Sox have had. He’s saved at least 35 games since 2006. He was nearly unhittable in their championship season of 2007. But after blowing a save in game 3 of the 2009 divisional series against the Angels, he has hit a snag. Last year his ERA rose two runs from the previous season (1.85 – 3.90). There was talk of trading Papelbon in the offseason since he was heading into a contract year. There weren’t any better options so the Red Sox are giving him another shot. They did sign Bobby Jenks who has experience and a ring with the Chicago White Sox as their closer. Should Papelbon struggle again they will not hesitate to give Jenks a chance. Papelbon is a competitor at the highest level. It remains to be seen that he won’t have a bounce back season, but there are higher expectations this season with the moves they made to shore up the lineup. The time is now for Papelbon to regain his once dominant form.

Best Acquisitions: LF Carl Crawford & 1B Adrian Gonzalez Boston Red Sox
Boston acquired the patient power hitter Gonzalez from San Diego and less than a week later they sign the speedy Crawford at the winter meetings. On paper it makes the Red Sox the favorites to win the AL East. They took away Tampa Bay’s best player in Crawford and they solidified the middle of their lineup with Gonzalez. Another reason to like these moves is that both players stay relatively healthy. Crawford has had only one injury plagued season. Gonzalez has played in at least 160 games the last four seasons. If the rest of Boston’s lineup can return to health, Crawford and Gonzalez will greatly improve Boston’s chances of returning to the postseason.

New Kid on the Block: P Jeremy Hellickson Tampa Bay Rays
He like former first round pick David Price are highly touted prospects who will be mainstays in the Rays rotation. Hellickson was auditioning in the bullpen in September, but there’s no question he is going to be a starter. Being the Rays fifth starter this year puts him in a perfect position to succeed. Tampa Bay decided to trade away their most consistent starter Matt Garza to the Cubs to give Hellickson his opportunity to start. The Rays believe he is ready. They know they won’t get the kind of results they received from Price, but they eventually invision a Price – Hellickson combination at the top of their rotation for a long time.

Red Sox Lineup

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury

.192 AVG 0 HR 5 RBI

2. 2B Dustin Pedroia

.288 AVG 12 HR 41 RBI

3. LF Carl Crawford*

.307 AVG 19 HR 90 RBI

4. 1B Adrian Gonzalez*

.298 AVG 31 HR 101 RBI

5. 3B Kevin Youkilis

.307 AVG 19 HR 62 RBI

6. DH David Ortiz

.270 AVG 32 HR 102 RBI

7. RF J.D. Drew

.255 AVG 22 HR 68 RBI

8. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia

.167 AVG 0 HR 2 RBI

9. SS Marco Scutaro

.275 AVG 11 HR 56 RBI

Health is an important part of every team. It’s especially true for Boston. Ellsbury, Pedroia and Youkilis all missed significant time last season. With Crawford aboard, Ellsbury should have less pressure to succeed this year, but he will have to return to form as one of the best leadoff hitters. Pedroia wasn’t on his way to a MVP season, but he was certainly going to help them compete for a playoff spot. When he’s right, Pedroia is one of the best hitters in the game. Crawford can play anywhere in the lineup and still produce at an All-Star level. What remains to be seen is if his power numbers will grow playing full time in Fenway. Gonzalez is sure to produce monstrous numbers playing at Fenway for half his games. Playing all those years in Petco Park he was still able to hit at least 30 HR and drive in over 100 runs. Youkilis is probably the most patient hitter in the game. He will be the third baseman full time now that Gonzalez is aboard. Youkilis actually prefers playing third, but he is an above average defender. Ortiz was off to another rough start last year, but did end up having a productive year. How many he will be able to have is the question. Drew can still hit and playing in a short field in Fenway will help hide his defensive lapses, but the Red Sox only care that he still produces at the major league level. Saltalamacchia is a better hitter now than Varitek, but Boston figures to play Varitek late in games as a defensive replacement. Scutaro was exactly what the Red Sox expected from him when they signed him. The weren’t expecting him to be the full time starter at shortstop, but he should get the majority of the playing time with Lowrie recovering from injury.

Bench

OF Mike Cameron

.259 AVG 4 HR 15 RBI

C Jason Varitek

.232 AVG 7 HR 16 RBI

INF Jed Lowrie

.287 AVG 9 HR 24 RBI

Cameron is still an elite center fielder, but his bat speed took a step back last year. Injuries are apart of the game, but it was a bit surprising seeing Cameron miss significant time. Varitek will still see playing time, but more as a defensive replacement. Lowrie is a good hitter, but injuries have slowed his progress to becoming a full time starter. He should see plenty of time with Scutaro’s age and Pedroia coming off an injury plagued season.

Rotation

1. Jon Lester

19-9 3.25 ERA

2. John Lackey

14-11 4.40 ERA
3. Clay Buchholz
17-7 2.33 ERA
4. Josh Beckett
6-6 5.78 ERA
5. Daisuke Matsuzaka
9-6 4.69 ERA

Besides the injury woes of the Red Sox lineup, there was also a lack of production from some key members of the pitching staff. Lester wasn’t one of them. He is now the bona fide ace going forward after another stellar season. Lackey struggled in his first season in Boston. He is a good pitcher who should make the proper adjustments and get back to his winning ways. Buchholz is getting closer to the point where Lester is. The Red Sox were pleased to see Buchholz play to his potential which should help motivate Beckett and Matsuzaka bounce back. Beckett should be better and has to be for Boston to be successful. Matsuzaka hasn’t lived up to the money the Red Sox invested in him. There was talk of seeing if they could trade him in the offseason, but that quickly was quashed by the Boston front office. The Red Sox championship aspirations rest with the starters.

Setup

Bobby Jenks*
1-3 4.44 ERA

Closer

Jonathan Papelbon
37 SV 3.90 ERA

The Red Sox bullpen was still good, but definitely could’ve been better. Papelbon needs to be better and lower his ERA by at least a run. Jenks is Boston’s insurance policy in case Papelbon’s struggles don’t go away when the season starts or should he be injured. Boston also has Daniel Bard, who might be given an opportunity to close from time to time. The Red Sox starters have more pressure on them to succeed, but Papelbon is on a short leash.

Yankees Lineup

1. SS Derek Jeter

.270 AVG 10 HR 67 RBI

2. RF Nick Swisher

.288 AVG 29 HR 89 RBI

3. 1B Mark Teixeira

.256 AVG 33 HR 108 RBI

4. 3B Alex Rodriguez

.270 AVG 30 HR 125 RBI

5. 2B Robinson Cano

.319 AVG 29 HR 109 RBI

6. DH Jorge Posada

.248 AVG 18 HR 57 RBI

7. CF Curtis Granderson

.247 AVG 24 HR 67 RBI

8. C Russell Martin*

.248 AVG 5 HR 26 RBI

9. LF Brett Gardner

.277 AVG 5 HR 47 RBI

After an offseason to forget, Jeter would like to prove all his doubters wrong. He will be the newest member of the 3,000 hit club this year, but the Yankees would like to win a championship too. Swisher had a career year playing in New York last season. He’s always been a patient hitter, but he took that to another level last year. Expect more of the same from Swisher. Teixeira still hit at least 30 HR and drove in 100 runs, but his batting average was a career worst last year. The Yankees would like to see their 160 million dollar first baseman get his average up around the .280 mark this year. A-Rod was struggling with injuries last year, but going into this year he is injury free and that is a scary thought. If he is at or near his MVP level the Yankees will be tough to keep quiet. Cano was being talked about as the MVP of the American League last year. The Yankees weren’t lying when they said he was going to be their best hitter when he arrived in the major leagues. Going forward he easily could break all of Jeter’s records if he stays in New York. Posada will see some time as the starting catcher this year, but most of his playing time will be as the DH. His bat is what’s keeping him around in New York. Granderson had an okay first season in New York. He is a tough competitor and knows he can do better. Martin should be a stable force on the defensive side. He won’t be asked to do a lot as a hitter, but he does a good job handling a pitching staff. Gardner by seasons end should be the leadoff hitter. His speed is too valuable to have at the bottom of the lineup.

Bench

OF/DH Andruw Jones

.230 AVG 19 HR 48 RBI

C Francisco Cervelli

.271 AVG 0 HR 38 RBI

INF Eric Chavez*

.234 AVG 1 HR 10 RBI

Jones can still produce decent power numbers at this stage in his career. He probably won’t see much time in center field, but as the DH and the occasional start in left or right is doable. Cervelli is a good hitter, but doesn’t offer much in the power department. His defense was overlooked. Chavez is looking to make a comeback from a multitude of injuries during his career in Oakland. The former All-Star third baseman should see plenty of time as a pinch hitter and giving Rodriguez and Teixeira a day off.

Rotation

1. C.C. Sabathia

21-7 3.18 ERA

2. Phil Hughes

18-8 4.19 ERA

3. A.J. Burnett

10-15 5.26 ERA

4. Ivan Nova

12-3 2.86 ERA (AAA stats)

5. Freddy Garcia*

12-6 4.64 ERA

Sabathia and Hughes were the lone bright spots last year. As was Andy Pettitte, but he decided to retire in the offseason. New York hopes they won’t have to try and convince him to change his mind if Burnett has another disastrous season. Sabathia is earning his 180 million dollars since signing with the Yankees. His first season resulted in a championship and his second was competing for a Cy Young award. His third figures to be similar. Hughes had an All-Star season for the Yankees. It won’t be his last, but New York isn’t sure he can handle the same workload year in and year out. Burnett has to regain his 2009 form. For some reason his mechanics were off all year long and when he tried to change, they got worse. He is better than his 2010 season showed. Nova is another potential number two starter for the Yankees. He won’t see a big workload this year, but don’t be surprised if he puts up numbers similar to Phil Hughes very soon. Garcia won the fifth spot in spring training. He has recovered nicely from shoulder problems a few years ago. He is an innings eater and competes every fifth day. Former AL Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon will also see some time as a starter too if someone should be hurt or if Burnett struggles again.

Setup

Rafael Soriano*

3-2 1.73 ERA

Closer

Mariano Rivera

33 SV 1.80 ERA

The Yankees didn’t want to sign Soriano, but they figured it couldn’t hurt having a replacement ready in case the unthinkable happens and Rivera gets hurt. Rivera will retire at some point. Soriano is signed to a three year deal which in at least one of those years he will be the closer. Until then he and Rivera form the best 8th and 9th inning duos in baseball. New York might have some issues with some of the starting spots, but if the bats continue to produce they will be able to win games with these two at the end of the game.

Blue Jays Lineup

1. CF Rajai Davis*

.284 AVG 5 HR 52 RBI

2. SS Yunel Escobar

.256 AVG 4 HR 35 RBI

3. RF Jose Bautista

.260 AVG 54 HR 124 RBI

4. 1B Adam Lind

.237 AVG 23 HR 72 RBI

5. 2B Aaron Hill

.205 AVG 26 HR 68 RBI

6. LF Travis Snider

.255 AVG 14 HR 32 RBI

7. 3B Edwin Encarnacion

.244 AVG 21 HR 51 RBI

8. DH Juan Rivera*

.252 AVG 15 HR 52 RBI

9. C J.P. Arencibia

.301 AVG 32 HR 85 RBI (AAA stats)

The Blue Jays were missing one piece to their lineup last year and that was a leadoff hitter. Toronto now has a legitimate leadoff hitter in Davis to set up the rest of their power hitting lineup. He can steal, field and is turning into a good hitter. Escobar fell out of favor in Atlanta last and was dealt at the trade deadline to Toronto. He took off, hitting all his home runs with the Blue Jays and was a stellar defender. In a full season he should put up good numbers in a good hitting lineup. Bautista’s power numbers are probably a one year phenomenon. He has become a great hitter with Toronto and that is a testament to his work ethic throughout his career. If Lind can bounce back after a subpar 2010 campaign, the middle of the Blue Jays order will be formidable with the likes of Boston and New York. Along with Lind, Hill needs to return to his All-Star form. His batting average was a career low and Toronto thinks that it is only a one year wonder. Snider is starting to capitalize on his potential. He will be a full time starter this year with the departure of Vernon Wells to the Angels. Encarnacion has always been a good hitter, but he has struggled to stay healthy since breaking into the big leagues. He will likely see a good portion of his playing time at DH to keep his bat in the lineup. Rivera is a good hitter, but his fielding is suspect. Toronto will be a good place for him to be a pinch hitter and play at DH too. Arencibia had one of the best major league debuts in the history of the game last year. After that, he fell back to earth. Toronto still believes that he can be their catcher of the future and will be better disciplined at the plate. His minor league numbers show that he can.

Bench

INF John McDonald

.250 AVG 6 HR 23 RBI

C Jose Molina

.246 AVG 6 HR 12 RBI

OF Scott Podsednik*

.297 AVG 6 HR 51 RBI

McDonald is a super utility defender for Toronto’s infield. He hasn’t always been the best hitter, but when there are injuries he can fill in for extended periods. Molina is a sound defensive catcher and will be a good tutor to Arencibia. Molina’s work with the pitching has gone unnoticed in some circles, but most know how important he is to a ball club. Podsednik should see playing time if Snider and/or Rivera struggle. He can steal many bases and is pretty good at tracking down fly balls.

Rotation

1. Ricky Romero

14-9 3.73 ERA

2. Brandon Morrow

10-7 4.49 ERA

3. Brett Cecil

15-7 4.22 ERA

4. Kyle Drabek

14-9 2.94 ERA (AA stats)

5. Jo-Jo Reyes

2-6 4.99 ERA (AA and AAA stats)

If there was a bona fide ace, the Blue Jays starting pitching might be good enough to compete with Boston and New York for the division title. Romero is slowly becoming that ace with his consistent performance. The hard throwing lefthander is among the most durable pitcher Toronto has and doesn’t go on many long losing streaks. Morrow nearly had a no-hitter last year. He has the best stuff on the staff, but he has trouble staying healthy. Cecil had a good year, but Toronto would like to see him be more consistent. Cecil can be a top of the rotation pitcher, but has to improve his ERA. Drabek is getting his chance to prove his worth this season. He was the major piece acquired from Philadelphia for Roy Halladay. His numbers have been fantastic in the minors, but what remains to be seen is if he should still be there another year. Toronto is probably doing the right thing, but waiting one more year might give Toronto a better return on their investment. Reyes has had good numbers in the minor leagues with Atlanta, but he hasn’t turned that into progress at the major league level.

Setup

Jason Frasor

3-4 3.68 ERA

Closer

Jon Rauch*

21 SV 3.12 ERA

Toronto’s bullpen took a hit when Kevin Gregg left as a free agent to Baltimore. To solve that problem they acquired three closers, who along with Frasor will be competing for the position. Rauch is the default closer because Frank Francisco and Octavio Dotel will be placed on the 15 day DL to start the season. Rauch had a good year closing in Minnesota for the injured Joe Nathan, but he is better suited as the setup man. Frasor can close, but was to inconsistent to hold down the job. Toronto does have a deep bullpen when Francisco and Dotel are healthy, but who will be the full time closer remains to be seen.

Orioles Lineup

1. 2B Brian Roberts

.283 AVG 4 HR 15 RBI

2. RF Nick Markakis

.297 AVG 12 HR 60 RBI

3. 1B Derrek Lee*

.260 AVG 19 HR 80 RBI

4. DH Vladimir Guerrero*

.300 AVG 29 HR 115 RBI

5. LF Luke Scott

.284 AVG 27 HR 72 RBI

6. 3B Mark Reynolds*

.198 AVG 32 HR 85 RBI

7. CF Adam Jones

.284 AVG 19 HR 69 RBI

8. C Matt Wieters

.249 AVG 11 HR 55 RBI

9. SS J.J. Hardy*

.268 AVG 6 HR 38 RBI

Baltimore made some moves to improve their lineup, but those moves have to coincide with their core for the future. Roberts has to be apart of the lineup the entire year in order for the Orioles to be competitive. He does so much for them. Most of it doesn’t show up on a stat sheet. Markakis has the makings to be an All-Star during his career. For him last year was a down year, but he still managed to produce with hardly any protection around him. That won’t be a problem this year with Lee and Guerrero behind him. Lee is a gold glove first baseman and still can drive in runs. He won’t be able to consistently put up All-Star numbers, but his defense will greatly help the pitching staff. Guerrero proved last year that he can still produce. He did slow down after the All-Star break, but if the Orioles can get similar numbers from him this year, they will be pleased. Scott was their best power hitter last year. He will see more playing time in the field this year. He’s not the best fielder, but with the short field at Camden Yards it won’t be a problem. Reynolds figures to be apart of the Orioles future. His strikeout totals are a concern, but his power numbers override that problem. Jones has to do better. He is a gold glove caliber center fielder, but his bat is what made him an All-Star. Wieters was asked a lot of last year, but this year he will be given time to develop at the plate. He did show his skills behind the plate with his ability to handle a young pitching staff. Hardy is a major defensive upgrade at shortstop. He isn’t expected to make noise with his bat, but he is capable of 20+ HR.

Bench

OF Nolan Reimold

.207 AVG 3 HR 14 RBI

OF Felix Pie

.274 AVG 5 HR 31 RBI

INF Cesar Izturis

.230 AVG 1 HR 28 RBI

Reimold is better than his 2010 season. He was given time to refine his approach in the minors, but this is an important year for him if he is to find a spot going forward. Pie was slated to be a starter, but with the arrival of Guerrero that put Scott in the outfield. Pie is a speedster who has decent pop. He will still see plenty of playing time throughout the year. Izturis is still a good defender, but his bat has dropped off quite a bit. What remains is whether he will see more time at second base this time around.

Rotation

1. Jeremy Guthrie

11-14 3.83 ERA

2. Brian Matusz

10-12 4.30 ERA

3. Jake Arrieta

6-6 4.66 ERA

4. Brad Bergesen

8-12 4.98 ERA

5. Justin Duchscherer*

2-1 2.89 ERA

Guthrie was the default number one last year and is again this year. He responded well with the responsibility last year. This should be the same as the Orioles are bringing along a couple of youngsters to eventually take the top spots. Matusz is one of those youngsters. He has great stuff and is potentially an ace in the making for the Orioles. Arrieta had a good tryout period for Baltimore. The Orioles will give him a full time gig this year after his strong outing late last summer. Bergesen will be slated lower in the order this year. He was asked a lot of last year, but Baltimore still has high expectations for him going forward. Duchscherer has the potential to get 10-15 wins every season and finish with an ERA around 3.00. However, he hasn’t been healthy for a full season since 2006 and that was as a reliever for Oakland. Baltimore isn’t taking a huge risk, since he’s only signed on for one year. The Orioles figure if they can get at least three quarters of a season out of him they will be better for it keeping some of the youngsters in the minors a little longer.

Setup

Koji Uehara

1-2 2.86 ERA

Closer

Kevin Greeg*

37 SV 3.51 ERA

Baltimore had a problem right from the start last year in the ninth inning. Mike Gonzalez was a disaster and the Orioles made due with what they had. Uehara was good saving 13 games for Baltimore. He isn’t seen as the long term solution though. Alfredo Simon figured to get the job this year after saving 17 games last year, but with his legal troubles in his native country of the Dominican Republic, the Orioles had to make a move. They signed Gregg to take the closers role this year. He did a great job for Toronto last year and that is good enough for Baltimore. The Orioles have plenty of capable arms to setup Gregg, but the Orioles now have the comfort of a capable closer in the ninth inning.

Rays Lineup

1. 2B Ben Zobrist

.238 AVG 10 HR 75 RBI

2. LF Johnny Damon*

.271 AVG 8 HR 51 RBI

3. 3B Evan Longoria

.294 AVG 22 HR 104 RBI

4. DH Manny Ramirez*

.298 AVG 9 HR 42 RBI

5. RF Matt Joyce

.241 AVG 10 HR 40 RBI

6. CF B.J. Upton

.237 AVG 18 HR 62 RBI

7. 1B Dan Johnson

.198 AVG 7 HR 23 RBI

8. SS Reid Brignac

.256 AVG 8 HR 45 RBI

9. C John Jaso

.263 AVG 5 HR 44 RBI

There are some new faces, but Tampa Bay sure will miss the old ones. Zobrist will be given the chance to be the leadoff hitter. Newly signed outfielder Damon will get penciled in as the leadoff hitter too, but Zobrist should do better because of his bat. His .238 average isn’t the norm for this former All-Star. Damon isn’t as fast or as good a fielder anymore, but the Rays are encouraged by his plate discipline. That should give Longoria and Ramirez plenty of chances to drive in runs. Longoria is the face of the franchise now with the departure of Crawford. He is the real deal and is a gold glove defender at third base. Ramirez had the worst year of his career last season. Tampa Bay doesn’t expect him to produce All-Star like numbers, but a 20+ HR season would be nice. Joyce and Upton will be tasked with protecting Longoria and Ramirez. Joyce has big power potential, but injuries have slowed his progress during his major league career. Upton hasn’t been able to capitalize off his postseason performance of 2008. He has still managed to average at least 40 stolen bases in every one of those seasons, but his bat has been wildly inconsistent. Johnson is being tasked with the near impossible. Replace the bat of Carlos Pena. It shouldn’t be hard to do better than Pena’s average, but it will be nearly impossible to replace Pena’s HR and RBI totals. Brignac and Jaso are the newest full time starters to come from the Rays system. Brignac has long been touted for his defense, but his bat will have to come full circle. Jaso is a solid defender and his bat is slowly coming into form. He also has pretty good speed for a catcher.

Bench

OF Desmond Jennings

.278 AVG 3 HR 36 RBI (AAA stats)

INF/OF Sean Rodriguez

.251 AVG 9 HR 40 RBI

C Kelly Shoppach

.196 AVG 5 HR 17 RBI

Jennings is the eventual replacement for Carl Crawford. It probably won’t be this year though. He isn’t there yet with his bat, but his speed is ready for a major league tryout. Rodriguez has turned out to be a pretty good utility player since being acquired from the Angels. He was seen as a full time second baseman, but Tampa Bay tried him out at a few positions in the minors and it paid off. He will get plenty of at bats. Shoppach is being seen strictly as a defensive specialist. Jaso probably won’t play in over 130 games this year so Shoppach should still see plenty of starts.

Rotation

1. David Price

19-6 2.72 ERA

2. James Shields

13-15 5.18 ERA

3. Jeff Niemann

12-8 4.39 ERA

4. Wade Davis

12-10 4.07 ERA

5. Jeremy Hellickson

4-0 3.47 ERA

The lone bright spot for Tampa Bay is that they have a top of the line pitcher in Price. He was second in the AL Cy Young voting last year and might have won if not for the sluggish end to the season. You can easily pencil him in for those kinds of numbers the rest of his career. Shields has seen his ERA rise steadily throughout his career. He is a competitor and that helps him get through some rough outings, but Boston and New York are starting to pound him. Niemann has been fine tuning his craft for a while and he might have found it last year. The former top prospect for Tampa Bay might finally settle in to a top spot in the rotation. Davis was good last year. The Rays would like to see him pitch deeper into his starts, but the future is bright for him. Hellickson isn’t expected to produce Price like numbers his rookie year, but they would like to see some progress as he settles into the rotation.

Setup

Joel Peralta*

1-0 2.02 ERA

Closer

Kyle Farnsworth*

3-2 3.34 ERA

This is the one area where the Rays had the most upheaval. They lost 7 relievers, including their closer Rafael Soriano and their setup man Joaquin Benoit. The make shift bullpen signed Farnsworth and Peralta to help them have a legitimate back end to the pen. Peralta had a career year in Washington. That is the NL East is far different from the AL East. Farnsworth is another story. He hasn’t saved a game since 2008 and his career high was 16 in 2005 with Detroit and Atlanta. The Rays hope he can stay consistent so they don’t have to shake up what is a work in progress.