Post by 4th and Maine on Apr 16, 2009 8:32:56 GMT -5
We are about a week and a half into the 2009 baseball season and things have been anything but normal. We have already seen some incredible things such as two men hitting for the cycle, a triple play, and the first players ever to hit home runs from both sides of the plate on opening day. In addition to this, we saw many staff aces getting shelled in their first or second outing, or both.
The division leaders thus far in the season San Diego, Florida, Kansas City, Seattle, and Toronto are among the unlikely division leaders to this point. Teams like Milwaukee, the LA Angels, Red Sox, and Rays have struggled a little bit out of the gate. This lead many of you readers to e-mail into the blog and ask questions about your teams. You were asking if we thought that these early season losses are a sign of things to come or just early season struggles.
Well, it can be a little bit of both. I mean, a game is a game. Weather it is played and won in Augusta, April, or July, it still counts just the same. They all add up the same way and in the end your record is your record. That being said, they do play 162 of these, and I wouldn't let any of you get to worked up over 8, 9 , or 10 games. These things usually tend to play themselves out and in the end the cream of the crop rises to the top.
Check On Our Division Predictions:
AL East: Red Sox 3-6 (3.5 GB, 5th in AL East)
AL Central: White Sox 4-4 (.5 GB, 2nd in AL Central)
AL West: Seattle 7-2 (1st in AL West)
AL Wild Card: Rays 4-5 (2 GB of Wild Card)
NL East: Mets 4-4 (3 GB, 4th in NL East)
NL Central: Cubs 5-3 (1 GB, 2nd in NL Central)
NL West: Giants 2-6 (3.5 GB, 5th in NL West)
NL Wild Card: Braves 5-3 (.5 GB of NL Wild Card)
So far we wish we could take back the Giants a little bit out there in the NL West. But digging a little deeper into things, perhaps this slow start will level out. The major glaring weakness for the Giants coming into the year was the offense. However, they have already scored 31 runs in 8 games, or almost 4 runs a game. It is their pitching that is letting them down. The staff is giving up almost SIX runs a game. That is not going to cut it. When you have Linececum, Cain, and the Big Unit on the same staff you need to pitch better then that. I refuse to believe that either division leader San Diego or LA is going to run away with things. We could still bounce back.
Out in the AL West our pick of the Seattle Mariners is just looking brilliant, even though it is early. The M's have raced out to a 7-2 start so far this year and already lead their division by three games. In fact if it wasn't for a blown save in Brandon Morrow's first attempt, one in which is recorded two outs easily before losing, they would be off to an 8-1 start and franchise record. That being said, Morrow has locked it down and been a reliable closer since. The Mariners have also been getting terrific pitching from Jarrod Washburn, King Felix, and Eric Bedard. The other off-season acquisitions such as Endy Chavez and Franklin Gutierrez have been playing extremely well and this team looks as balanced as any in the American League. They may lack some of the power numbers but they will manufacture runs and play the baseball that the LA Angels use to play over the last few years when they were dominating the division.
The Toronto Blue Jays have also been making us look foolish over the first ten games. The Jays lead all of baseball in runs scored bashing in a whopping 68 runs already. They lead baseball with a plus 22 run differential and have been playing phenomenal in all facets of the game. However, 4th and Maine is still here to caution you Canada. The Jays have yet to play any of the three AL East powers. They are still only just four games above .500 and will surely come back to earth when the murder's row schedule starts. None the less, the early starts of some of these teams not expected to do as much definitely leads to hope in almost all thirty cities that are homes to a major league club.
Quick Notes:
> Kevin Youkilis is off to an MVP-like campaign thus far in 2009 leading the Red Sox in batting average, home runs, runs, and OPS. Youkilis is hitting .472, has hit two home runs, and scores eights runs already. He has been the one consistent bat in the early season struggles of the Sox offense. After a strong WBC as well, there is no reason to believe Youk can't carry this on to an extremely strong season.
> Ken Griffey Jr. was welcomed back to Seattle this past week for his first game as a Mariner. Seattle has been on fire lately, winning 6 in a row including starting 2-0 at home thus far. Junior didn't take long to give back to the fans of the pacific northwest as he blasted his 400th home run, and first back at home Wednesday night. In a 2-2 tie in 5th, Griffey blasted a trademark shot into the third row in right center to put Seattle up 3-2. The crowd went crazy and he was quickly called out for his first curtain call back in Seattle. Griffey becomes the first player ever to hit 400 home runs with one team, and 200 with another. He hit 210 in his time with Cincinnati.
> I think the Florida Marlins should officially be the new face of "Moneyball" or small market baseball. The Oakland A's had a nice run of a couple division titles and a few playoff appearances but the Marlins have consistently been doing this since 2003. That year Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, and others won the World Series. After that they gutted the roster, and have consistently done so year after year. They haven't brought in any big free agents and just keep retooling with kids. Even after doing so they have been consistently competitive in a tough division. Sure, they haven't made the playoff appearances that the A's did, but they are certainly the model of consistency for a very low payroll. Props to the Marlins.
> 4th and Maine was on hand for the April 7th Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park. It was just the second game of the season but I have to tell you that Fenway Park is like no other. It has a truly playoff feel for every one of the 81 games that are played in the fens. The crowd was on all night despite the home town team falling 7-2 and Jon Lester getting a little roughed up. Highlight of the night: Sweet Caroline. 4th and Maine will also be on hand for the April 21st game that will feature the Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox.
> How about Tim Wakefield's attempt at a no hitter in Oakland yesterday? Only Wakefield can get a little roughed up one outing, possibly giving up 8-10 runs, and then come out and pitch a gem. Wakefield admitted that it started to get into his head after 5 innings. Unfortunately it was broken up after 7 1/3 innings on a Suzuki base hit. Boston lost out on it's bid to tie the Dodgers for 40 no hitters, the most in MLB history.
Please remember to keep sending in your questions to the e-mail address below. We have been getting increased e-mails and we should be putting together a mailbag soon. I also want to apologize for the time between the last few blogs, things got a little hectic around here and things should be getting a little bit back to normal.
The division leaders thus far in the season San Diego, Florida, Kansas City, Seattle, and Toronto are among the unlikely division leaders to this point. Teams like Milwaukee, the LA Angels, Red Sox, and Rays have struggled a little bit out of the gate. This lead many of you readers to e-mail into the blog and ask questions about your teams. You were asking if we thought that these early season losses are a sign of things to come or just early season struggles.
Well, it can be a little bit of both. I mean, a game is a game. Weather it is played and won in Augusta, April, or July, it still counts just the same. They all add up the same way and in the end your record is your record. That being said, they do play 162 of these, and I wouldn't let any of you get to worked up over 8, 9 , or 10 games. These things usually tend to play themselves out and in the end the cream of the crop rises to the top.
Check On Our Division Predictions:
AL East: Red Sox 3-6 (3.5 GB, 5th in AL East)
AL Central: White Sox 4-4 (.5 GB, 2nd in AL Central)
AL West: Seattle 7-2 (1st in AL West)
AL Wild Card: Rays 4-5 (2 GB of Wild Card)
NL East: Mets 4-4 (3 GB, 4th in NL East)
NL Central: Cubs 5-3 (1 GB, 2nd in NL Central)
NL West: Giants 2-6 (3.5 GB, 5th in NL West)
NL Wild Card: Braves 5-3 (.5 GB of NL Wild Card)
So far we wish we could take back the Giants a little bit out there in the NL West. But digging a little deeper into things, perhaps this slow start will level out. The major glaring weakness for the Giants coming into the year was the offense. However, they have already scored 31 runs in 8 games, or almost 4 runs a game. It is their pitching that is letting them down. The staff is giving up almost SIX runs a game. That is not going to cut it. When you have Linececum, Cain, and the Big Unit on the same staff you need to pitch better then that. I refuse to believe that either division leader San Diego or LA is going to run away with things. We could still bounce back.
Out in the AL West our pick of the Seattle Mariners is just looking brilliant, even though it is early. The M's have raced out to a 7-2 start so far this year and already lead their division by three games. In fact if it wasn't for a blown save in Brandon Morrow's first attempt, one in which is recorded two outs easily before losing, they would be off to an 8-1 start and franchise record. That being said, Morrow has locked it down and been a reliable closer since. The Mariners have also been getting terrific pitching from Jarrod Washburn, King Felix, and Eric Bedard. The other off-season acquisitions such as Endy Chavez and Franklin Gutierrez have been playing extremely well and this team looks as balanced as any in the American League. They may lack some of the power numbers but they will manufacture runs and play the baseball that the LA Angels use to play over the last few years when they were dominating the division.
The Toronto Blue Jays have also been making us look foolish over the first ten games. The Jays lead all of baseball in runs scored bashing in a whopping 68 runs already. They lead baseball with a plus 22 run differential and have been playing phenomenal in all facets of the game. However, 4th and Maine is still here to caution you Canada. The Jays have yet to play any of the three AL East powers. They are still only just four games above .500 and will surely come back to earth when the murder's row schedule starts. None the less, the early starts of some of these teams not expected to do as much definitely leads to hope in almost all thirty cities that are homes to a major league club.
Quick Notes:
> Kevin Youkilis is off to an MVP-like campaign thus far in 2009 leading the Red Sox in batting average, home runs, runs, and OPS. Youkilis is hitting .472, has hit two home runs, and scores eights runs already. He has been the one consistent bat in the early season struggles of the Sox offense. After a strong WBC as well, there is no reason to believe Youk can't carry this on to an extremely strong season.
> Ken Griffey Jr. was welcomed back to Seattle this past week for his first game as a Mariner. Seattle has been on fire lately, winning 6 in a row including starting 2-0 at home thus far. Junior didn't take long to give back to the fans of the pacific northwest as he blasted his 400th home run, and first back at home Wednesday night. In a 2-2 tie in 5th, Griffey blasted a trademark shot into the third row in right center to put Seattle up 3-2. The crowd went crazy and he was quickly called out for his first curtain call back in Seattle. Griffey becomes the first player ever to hit 400 home runs with one team, and 200 with another. He hit 210 in his time with Cincinnati.
> I think the Florida Marlins should officially be the new face of "Moneyball" or small market baseball. The Oakland A's had a nice run of a couple division titles and a few playoff appearances but the Marlins have consistently been doing this since 2003. That year Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, and others won the World Series. After that they gutted the roster, and have consistently done so year after year. They haven't brought in any big free agents and just keep retooling with kids. Even after doing so they have been consistently competitive in a tough division. Sure, they haven't made the playoff appearances that the A's did, but they are certainly the model of consistency for a very low payroll. Props to the Marlins.
> 4th and Maine was on hand for the April 7th Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park. It was just the second game of the season but I have to tell you that Fenway Park is like no other. It has a truly playoff feel for every one of the 81 games that are played in the fens. The crowd was on all night despite the home town team falling 7-2 and Jon Lester getting a little roughed up. Highlight of the night: Sweet Caroline. 4th and Maine will also be on hand for the April 21st game that will feature the Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox.
> How about Tim Wakefield's attempt at a no hitter in Oakland yesterday? Only Wakefield can get a little roughed up one outing, possibly giving up 8-10 runs, and then come out and pitch a gem. Wakefield admitted that it started to get into his head after 5 innings. Unfortunately it was broken up after 7 1/3 innings on a Suzuki base hit. Boston lost out on it's bid to tie the Dodgers for 40 no hitters, the most in MLB history.
Please remember to keep sending in your questions to the e-mail address below. We have been getting increased e-mails and we should be putting together a mailbag soon. I also want to apologize for the time between the last few blogs, things got a little hectic around here and things should be getting a little bit back to normal.