A sad year for podcasting

Of late, my contribution to the blog has been nothing short of pitiful, and for that I apologise. There are a plethora of reasons why, none of which are really acceptable. Those of you who follow me on twitter will have seen I'm still keeping up with the post-season action, and I intend on doing a fairly major World Series preview once these thrilling Championship Series are over. But I recently heard the news that Matthew Berry and Nate Ravitz will be moving on from the Fantasy Focus Baseball podcast, and, as with Baseball Today reformatting, the move hit me harder than I expected.

A quick point: fantasy baseball got me interested in the sport. My friends and I had been NFL fans for a short while, and our fantasy NFL league led us to take an interest in fantasy baseball. With absolutely no knowledge of the sport, we drafted, and looking back on the draft makes for some fun reading (Carl Crawford was my first round pick, Roy Halladay was the second etc.). I was hooked. I began keeping up with daily box scores, reading up everything I could on the players, the teams, the rules. By the end of the season, I was a competent baseball enthusiast. A couple of years on and I'm fairly obsessed.

But that's enough about me. The point is, it all started through fantasy, lame or not. And fantasy was made fun, interesting and accessible by the goofy combination of Matthew Berry and Nate Ravitz on the ESPN Fantasy Focus Baseball Podcast. No doubt about it, they don't go heavy on content. In fact, they jokingly pride themselves on their mediocre fantasy advice. But they made me laugh, they made me angry and somewhere along the way they gave me a good baseball education.

Matthew Berry has become something of a fantasy guru, appearing frequently on television, radio and more recently in book format. His frequent changing of story, factual errors and bizarre obsession with random players are maddening. But his super sense of humour and ability to laugh at himself helps the show flow. He clearly enjoys doing the podcasts, and from time to time he pops up with a little nugget of advice that is actually pretty damn helpful.

For me, Nate Ravitz makes the show. Unlike Berry, Ravitz is not a household name, and I have to assume that is out of choice, because I for one would love to read his content or listen to other podcasts that he is involved in. Ravitz is a supremely talented host, which becomes evident whenever Matthew is forced to fill in, and he is able to make the show flow speedily, forcing Matthew to shut up when they spend too long on a trivial point. But in my opinion, Nate has proven his worth as far more than a reliable sidekick. He actually gives superb fantasy advice, quietly so, considering he doesn't write down his opinions, and I find myself agreeing with most of his opinions. Ravitz is also extremely funny, able to crack jokes without allowing the show to get bogged down, and I found myself at several occasions this year wishing he did have more content I could check out.

But that's enough fanboyish chit-chat; this was just a small blog post in which I wanted to thank Matthew, Nate and of course 'Pod Vader'. The fantasy focus podcast had become part of my routine, and they've been able to keep me laughing for a few years now. During one particularly comical moment, I snorted loudly on a packed train, and these are the kind of memories that make for great podcasting. So thanks guys, and good luck with whatever is coming in the future. And Nate, if you ever decide to start broadcasting more advice and opinions, you've got yourself a reader right here.

The Post-Season Picture 20/9

The AL Wildcard Picture

Team	Record	Games Back	Next series
Tampa Bay Rays	83-69	-	VS BAL
Texas Rangers	83-69	-	@ KC
Cleveland Indians	83-70	0.5	VS HOU
Baltimore Orioles	81-71	2.0	@ TB
Kansas City Royals	80-72	3.0	VS TEX
New York Yankees	80-73	3.5	VS SF

The Texas Rangers rode a wild but effective performance from Yu Darvish and some power-hitting from the heart of their line-up to victory against the Rays last night to secure a 2-2 series draw and bring both teams level atop the wildcard standings. They appear to have reversed the worrying funk that pulled them down to the wildcard pack, and a series win in Kansas City would further bolster their play-off aspirations. For the Rays, a big series with the O's is up next as they look to pull away from the pack. The Orioles pulled off an impressive series win in Boston to keep their slim hopes alive, but a poor performance this weekend could see them drop out of the wildcard race.

Speaking of dropping out of the race, the Yankees lost to the Blue Jays once again last night, taking just one game in the three-game set at the Rogers Centre. The hitting has gone stone cold once again, and they will need to sweep the Giants back in New York if they want to stay in this race. The Royals had a chance to sweep the Indians and push themselves right into contention, but after winning 2 out of 3 they leave themselves with a lot of work to do. The upcoming series with Texas is a must-win. For the Indians, the hardest part of their remaining schedule has been navigated, and with series' against the Astros, White Sox and Twins left, they have to be considered most likely to spoil the party for Tampa Bay or Texas.

The NL Central Picture

Team	Record	Games Back	Next Series
St Louis Cardinals	89-64	-	@ MIL
Pittsburgh Pirates	88-65	1.0	VS CIN
Cincinnati Reds	87-66	2.0	@ PIT

After yesterday's tough 15 inning loss, the Cardinals were able only to split the series at Coors Field with the Rockies, and their NL Central remained well within reach at 1 game. The upcoming series with Milwaukee should be a relatively easy one, and they'll look to sweep as the hunt for a NLDS spot heats up. The Pirates were having a shocking series against the Padres, losing the first three games and risking being swept at home. Gerrit Cole stepped up in the final game with a 12 strikeout performance to salvage a game for the Pirates, but with a huge series against Cincinnati coming up, they'll need to keep this momentum going. The Reds did exactly what they were expected to do against the Astros, sweeping them behind a strong 4-steal debut for Billy Hamilton, and if they can take the series in Pittsburgh they could put themselves in prime position to make a late run at the NL Central crown.

GIF of the Day

Today's GIF of the day is a an amusing excerpt from one of Francisco Liriano's rehab starts earlier this season. Having spent his entire career in the DH-oriented AL, batting and running apparently weren't things that came naturally to him.

The Post-Season Picture 18/9

With less than two weeks of regular season left to play in the Major Leagues, it is now or never for the teams in the play-off hunt, looking to secure themselves a spot in October baseball. In the American League we have an enthralling wildcard race, with six teams fighting it out for the two spots in a one-game shootout. Over in the National League, the NL Central division still has three teams separated by just 2.5 games, whilst the Washington Nationals are making a ridiculously late bid to spoil that party. With the post-season picture changing every day, this is the first piece in a series that will take a look at recent events, the coming action and the post-season picture as a whole as the 2013 regular season draws to a close.

The AL Wildcard Picture

Team	Record	Games Back	Today's Matchup
Tampa Bay Rays	82-68	-	VS TEX
Texas Rangers	82-68	-	@ TB
Cleveland Indians	82-69	0.5	@ KC
Baltimore Orioles	80-70	2.0	@ BOS
New York Yankees	79-72	3.5	@ TOR
Kansas City Royals	79-72	3.5	VS CLE

The biggest series at the moment is the huge three-game set between the wildcard pace-setters at Tropicana Field. The Rangers had been imploding, losing seven straight at taking themselves from AL West frontrunners to a doubt to even make the wildcard game altogether. However, they got to Jeremy Hellickson early and often last night, taking his very first pitch of the game deep and forcing him out of the game in the third inning. Alexi Ogando did a great job in his spot start allowing just one run on two hits through five strong innings and the bullpen did the rest.

At Kauffman Stadium, Royals prospect Yordano Ventura made his first big league start and impressed, throwing 4.2 innings of one-run ball, frequently touching 100mph and even recording the fastest pitch by a starter in the Majors over the past five seasons at 101.9mph. Unfortunately, the bullpen that had been so strong for the Royals all year let them down this time, as a 3-1 lead turned into a 5-3 deficit, and the Indians were able to hold on to push themselves within half a game of the post-season, and leave Kansas City as a long shot.

The Yankees lost their fourth straight as they fell to the Blue Jays 2-0 thanks to an R.A. Dickey masterpiece in Toronto. Their maniacal run at the post-season appears to be finally slowing down, and as with the Royals, they will need some kind of miracle over the final 10 days if they want to make the wildcard game. The Orioles rode Chris Davis' 51st home run of the season (an Oriole record) to a huge 3-2 win over the Red Sox at Fenway. The O's are still up against it, but a decent winning streak here could easily push them into contention.

The NL Central Picture

Team	Record	Games Back	Today's Matchup
St Louis Cardinals	88-63	-	@ COL
Pittsburgh Pirates	87-64	1.0	VS SD
Cincinatti Reds	86-66	2.5	@ HOU

With a crushing 11-4 victory over the Rockies yesterday, the Cardinals moved clear of the Pirates in first place in the NL Central. Allen Craig is still sidelined with injury, and the Cardinals hope they will have him back for their post-season run, but in the interim, Matt Adams has proven himself an adept replacement. The Pirates have now dropped back-to-back games to the Padres, and have fallen a game back as they try to assure themselves of an NLDS appearance whilst the Reds beat up on the Astros in just the way they were expected to.

What about those Nationals?

The pesky Washington Nationals refuse to go away, and after sweeping the double-header with the Braves last night moved to 9-1 over their past ten games and 4.5 games back of a wildcard spot. They're still very much a long-shot for the post-season, but may be worth monitoring over the next few days in case they turn this momentum into a genuine chance to upset one of the NL Central rivals.

Tonight's Match-Ups

Phil Hughes (NYY) v (TOR) J.A. Happ

Usually a move out of New York would be a reason to think Hughes could have success, but the Rogers Centre is a similar bandbox that will provide no respite to the homer-prone right-hander. J.A. Happ hasn't made many starts since his return from a frightening injury sustained when he was hit in the head by a line drive, but I like his chance to earn his fifth win of the season today.

Wei-Yin Chen (BAL) v (BOS) Jake Peavy

Chen has had another quietly good season as a member of the O's rotation, with a 3.99 ERA and 1.8 WAR entering today's game. He has struggled of late, however, not allowing less than two runs since July 19th, and when he faced the Red Sox in late August, he got blown up for eight runs in less than four innings. Jake Peavy has been good since making the switch over to Boston, with a 3.66 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. I like his chances to quiet the Orioles tonight.

Danny Salazar (CLE) v (KAN) Bruce Chen

After returning from Tommy John surgery last year, expectations were in check for Salazar entering this season, but he has blown those expectations away with his performances so far as a member of the Indians rotation. He provides raw swing-and-miss stuff, with 54 strikeouts in 40 innings, and has dominated line-ups with much more talent than this Kansas City team. Bruce Chen is a wily veteran who will be tough to square up, but you've got to think the Indians are favourites in this one.

Derek Holland (TEX) v (TB) Chris Archer

Holland was expected to step up and make himself a strong number two in this rotation this season, and whilst the 3.49 ERA represents a career low, Holland has been disappointing of late, allowing six runs in both his last two starts and eighteen runs over his past four. He has the stuff to turn this funk around, and Texas will very much be hoping he does it tonight in this big encounter. Chris Archer shone after his call-up to the big leagues earlier this year, and after a brief blip earlier this month, he quelled fatigue concerns by throwing six scoreless innings against Minnesota. The Texas line-up has the ability to take advantage of any mistakes he makes, but he should give Tampa Bay a chance to take this crucial match-up.

Greg Reynolds (CIN) v (HOU) Brad Peacock

Greg Reynolds is nothing special, but he won't need to be tonight, as the Reds should score a bucket of runs and secure an important sweep of the Astros.

Adam Wainwright (STL) v (COL) Tyler Chatwood

Tyler Chatwood has been a pleasant surprise for the Rockies this season, navigating control issues and an ugly WHIP (1.48) to post an impressive 3.20 ERA and 2.6 WAR. He'll have a tough assignment tonight however, against the strong St Louis bats and their ace, Adam Wainwright. After a couple of ugly starts against the Reds a few weeks ago, Waino has proven it was nothing but a blip on the radar, and he has a good chance at win number 17 tonight.

Tyson Ross (SD) v (PIT) Charlie Morton

The Padres have surprisingly taken the first two games of this four game set with Pittsburgh, and get to face one of Pittsburgh's weaker starters today in the form of Charlie Morton. Tyson Ross has battled inconsistency all season, and after getting spanked about for six runs in less than an inning against the Phillies, it stands to reason that he would throw seven shutout innings today.

My picks: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Indians, Rays, Reds, Cardinals and Pirates.

GIF(s) Of The Day

A double animated image special today, as we take a look at Danny Salazar striking out Miguel Cabrera with a 100mph fastball

and then with a filthy breaking ball.

 He would later strike out the best hitter in baseball for a third time. The fourth time, well he gave up the game-tying home run. Point is, Salazar has good stuff, and Chris Getz isn't (yet) Miguel Cabrera.

Should Fernandez, Bundy and Harvey change the way we treat pitching prospects?

It has been a bittersweet season for fans of great young pitching (and let's be honest, who isn't?). Some of the game's top starters are barely out of nappies, as Matt Harvey and Jose Fernandez have been dominant in the NL East, Shelby Miller has been superb for the Cardinals, and even Clayton Kershaw is just 25 (how scary is that?). At the same time of course, we have seen how fragile pitchers are. Top prospect Dylan Bundy hurt his elbow before throwing a single regular season pitch and had to be shut down to have Tommy John surgery earlier this year. And in a cruel blow to the Mets, Matt Harvey tore his UCL last week and may have to follow Bundy down the path to surgery. These injuries serve as a constant reminder of how pitching is a violent activity, and regardless of impeccable mechanics, superb conditioning and strict pitch count control, pitchers can get hurt on any pitch.

So should this change the way we treat pitching prospects? Young players, particularly those drafted out of high school, tend to spend three or four seasons in the minor leagues. On many levels, this makes sense, as hitters and pitchers can adapt, improve and learn whilst facing similar competition. Young players just aren't skilled enough to play at the highest level. For the most part, this is true. However, Jose Fernandez has proven this season that playing at every level in the minor leagues isn't necessary to be an impactful major league player. Fernandez hasn't just held his own, he's been the best rookie in the Major Leagues this season, despite throwing a handful of innings above single-A. Actually, Fernandez hasn't just been one of the best rookies this season. He's been one of the best pitchers outright, with incredible ERA, WHIP and strikeout numbers, made more impressive by the fact he is just 21 years old.

Of course, Fernandez is the exception, rather than the rule, but the point stands. Should top pitching prospects be hurried to the Major Leagues so that they don't waste their innings in the minors? With the exception of a few pitchers (Verlander, Buehrle, Ryan etc.), all pitchers break down at some point, suggesting that there are a finite number of innings an arm can throw. Rather than throw 200 or 300 innings across three seasons in the minor leagues, prospects could throw 150 of those in the Major Leagues. Perhaps their command won't be fully refined and the breaking pitches will lag behind the fastball, but innings in the minors generates nothing for a team, whereas in the Major Leagues they will be productive, even if they're not as dominant as they could be.

After Bundy went down with injury earlier this season, much was made of the fact he threw an extortionate number of pitches in high school. Whilst there is nothing Major League teams can do to combat this, they can promote their pitchers to the big league club earlier, perhaps in a bullpen role to start with (as the Cardinals frequently do). Whilst these pitchers still have plenty of learning to do, they would be providing value with their innings, rather than using them in the minors where they don't help the team. The issue might not be as poignant for the top prospects, because guys like Strasburg, Gerrit Cole and Fernandez likely only throw a couple of hundred innings in the minors anyway as they are fast-tracked to the big league club. But prospects like Tampa Bay right-hander Chris Archer work away in the minors for years (Archer racked up 770 innings in the Minor Leagues before this season), and every pitch they throw could potentially lead to an injury that ends their career or drastically reduces their effectiveness.

Prospects, and particularly pitching prospects, tend to be wrapped in bubble-wrap and carefully tended well into their careers, as innings limits, pitch counts and better conditioning has become much more prominent in recent seasons thanks to high-profile blow-outs that occurred to talented youngsters like Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. And whilst these have undoubtedly contributed to a general reduction in arm injuries, the point still stands that pitching is dangerous and violent. Perhaps teams could learn a lesson from Miami (that sounds odd), and begin to promote their pitching prospects earlier, to ensure that they can gain as much value as possible from the finite number of innings an arm can throw.

In the mean time, let's hope for a full and speedy recovery for both Bundy and Harvey, because they make baseball much more exciting when they play. And let's continue to appreciate how incredible pitchers like Buehrle are (2,851 innings and counting), never mind once-in-a-generation work-horses like Nolan Ryan (5,386 innings in his illustrious career), because the truth is, every pitch can lead to a disastrous injury.

PEDs and A-Rod

Despite all the fantastic action taking place on the field, it has been hard to keep your eyes on the field in recent weeks if you've been keeping up with Major League Baseball. MLB's war on performance enhancing drugs (PED's) began with the biogenesis scandal, became serious when Tony Bosch was recruited, took a bizarre turn when Ryan Braun accepted a 65 game ban and almost concluded when twelve players were handed 50-game suspensions. Almost. But of course, the biggest name in this entire saga was Alex Rodriguez. The prodigiously talented third baseman who appealed against his huge 211 game suspension. In an almost surreal twist, Rodriguez returned from his hip injury at around the same time, and made his season debut on the same day he received this suspension. So where on earth do we begin?

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The use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball is nothing new. In 1889 pitcher Pud Galvin used a testosterone supplement, and the use of similar drugs has been wide and well documented ever since. Steroids only made it to baseball's banned substance list in 1991 and testing for PEDs wasn't available until 2003. Between 1995 and 2003, steroid use reached its peak (or at least so we believe) and subsequently offensive numbers sky-rocketed. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa famously chased down Roger Maris' home run record in 1998 and Barry Bonds broke baseball altogether between 2001 and 2004. At the time, no-one batted an eyelid. Why would they? Baseball was the most exciting it had ever been. Stadiums were packed, revenues were soaring and interest was at an all-time high. Jose Canseco's 2005 book 'Juiced' suddenly discredited all these years of incredible offensive numbers, as Canseco detailed his use of steroids and suggested that the majority of other players were also users, including McGwire, Ivan Rodriguez and Jason Giambi. The book was highly controversial, and the issue of PEDs suddenly became baseball's biggest concern. Without calling Canseco a liar, his book also detailed Madonna's infatuation with him and claimed that he ran a 3.9 second 40-yard dash, which would be the fastest time ever recorded. Although steroids have only become major news over the past decade, their use has been frequent and widespread for well over half a century.

This season, performance enhancing drugs exploded onto national news when a list of players linked to the biogenesis clinic in Florida was revealed by the Miami New Times. The list seemed to implicate the listed players as having purchased performance enhancing substances from the now defunct clinic. Major League Baseball sued the clinic, and forced it's former owner, Tony Bosch, to co-operate with its investigations. Several months later, these investigations led to the suspensions for Braun, Rodriguez and twelve other players. MLB is yet to reveal the evidence it obtained in order to hand down these suspensions, although hopefully this evidence will come out as part of Alex Rodriguez's appeal process. Either way, the decision of MLB to trust Tony Bosch was an odd one, which highlighted Bud Selig's insatiable desire to combat the PED issue.

So where does that leave Rodriguez? He had previously admitted to PED use in 2003 when he was with the Rangers, but the more recent allegations leave his career in tatters. It's easy to forget that this is one of the most talented players ever to grace a baseball field. In 1996, as a 21 year old, Rodriguez hit .358 with a .414 OBP, 36 homers and 9.2 WAR and should have won the MVP award. There are some, almost scary parallels to a certain Mike Trout. The next season he regressed a little as his BABIP fell, but he was still worth 4.3 wins. He pushed his game up to another level in 1998, hitting 42 homers and stealing 46 bases along with a .310 average (becoming just the third player in history to join the 40/40 club). In 2000, he made the next leap, improving his walk rate from 9.8% to 14.9%, as he basically became the best player in baseball. Over the next decade, Rodriguez would continue to be one of the best players in the game, and as of writing he has compiled 111 wins above replacement in his career, with a .300 batting average and 649 career home runs. This isn't just a strong hall of fame case, this is a first ballot, slam dunk, sure-fire baseball great. But, of course, it's not. It's Alex Rodriguez.

So, what heinous crimes has he committed? Alex Rodriguez's use of performance enhancing drugs is beyond doubt - he admitted to steroid use in 2003, but Major League Baseball decided to go much further than the 50 game ban usually handed out to first time offenders and slapped him with a huge 211 game suspension, that would have seen him out of action through the 2014 season. This juiced up suspension was handed down on the grounds that Rodriguez attempted to 'cover-up his violations of the program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation'. Whilst this would indeed warrant a larger penalty, it seems odd to hand down this suspension to Rodriguez and not Braun, who had a previous failed test and had furiously maintained his innocence after avoiding suspension with a loophole.

Under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), agreed to by all players, Rodriguez is able to appeal this suspension, and play games whilst his appeal is heard. Exactly the same thing happened last season, when Melky Cabrera continued to play for the Giants whilst he appealed his suspension for PED use. Unlike Rodriguez's appeal, his case took place behind closed doors. This time, however, there is outrage. A number of players have criticised the fact that Rodriguez is able to play, apparently unaware that they agreed to this process themselves. Rodriguez is doing nothing more than following the procedure afforded to him by Major League Baseball. As a consequence, he has had the ball thrown at him by Ryan Dempster, and possibly may face further retribution in the coming weeks.

But this problem goes a lot further than Alex Rodriguez. Performance enhancing drugs have been in the news for a while now, and the argument reached a head last season when a number of hall of fame voters claimed they would never vote for Bonds, Sosa, Clemens etc. due to the steroid allegations levied against them. Whilst the use of PED's should be frowned upon, this feels like an attempt by baseball writers to rewrite the history of the game. Regardless of how he did it, Bonds broke the home run record and put together some of the greatest offensive seasons we have ever seen. To ignore his contributions to the game seems naive and stubborn. Even worse, players like Mike Piazza, who have never been linked absolutely to performance enhancing substances were failing to make the cut, as some writers decided not to vote for 'suspected users'. This argument came up again this season, when an ESPN poll revealed that a number of fans and pundits viewed Roger Maris original record of 61 home runs in a season as the real record. This black-inking of Sosa, McGwire and Bonds is ludicrous.

To start with, we have no idea what kind of effects PED's have on production. As David Schoenfield explained in this interesting article, there is little to no doubt that steroids have some impact on production. If they didn't help, players wouldn't take them. But it's impossible to work out how much of an impact they have. And the impact is almost certainly going to be less than most fans would like to believe. Steroids increase strength, which in turn can increase bat speed. In theory, this leads to more power - but how much more? Steroids certainly won't have any effect on plate discipline, on contact rates, on fly ball rates etc. Of course, it's a shame that talented players like Bonds, McGwire and Rodriguez felt the need to take PEDs and muddy the waters in the way they have. But to completely black out their incredible performance without any consideration into what effects the PEDs actually had seems premature and poorly informed. Not only that, but the greats of the past were probably juiced up on amphetamines, and all sorts of other performance enhancing drugs that weren't tested for. Heck, you can take adderall with no repercussions as a major league baseball player if you can get your hands on a prescription.

But the biggest shame of all? Well, that's not hard to find. In a season filled with spectacular baseball, as the Pirates look to make the play-offs for the first time since 1992, and look to put together a winning record for the first time in 20 seasons. Jose Fernandez, Yasiel Puig, Shelby Miller, Wil Myers et al are having remarkable rookie seasons, challenging not only for their respective rookie of the year awards, but possibly for MVP and Cy Young awards. Clayton Kershaw is putting together possibly the greatest pitching season since 1999 Pedro Martinez. These should be the headlines. These should be the discussions. But the continued focus on Alex Rodriguez and performance enhancing drugs doesn't allow that to happen. If this were the end of performance enhancing drugs, perhaps that would be ok. But it's not. Drugs have been used since 1890, and they'll continue to be used, no matter what suspensions Bud Selig hands down. That's the depressing truth. So, let's concentrate on baseball, please?

Looking back at my predictions

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and though making my bold predictions each season is a lot of fun, it can be pretty painful looking back at my woeful guesswork once the season reaches the close. Although divisions, awards and stat-lines aren't completely decided yet, we have a pretty good idea of how the season is going to play out. How did my bold predictions fare?

1. The Yankees lose 90 games

After getting off to a terrific start behind Vernon Wells' monster April, the Yankees have slipped out of the play-off race in recent weeks and currently sit just two games above .500. My pre-season prediction of an 80-82 record may prove a good call, but losing 90 games looks out of the question at the moment.

2. Giancarlo Stanton leads the majors in home runs

The one year I don't choose him will be the year he stays healthy and productive... Stanton struggled with an injury for a couple of months earlier this season, and hasn't been nearly as productive when on the field, with just 13 homers in 75 games. The lack of line-up protection, and lack of incentive to perform at the top of his game may play a role, but the persistent knee problems and tendency to blow hot and cold are bigger concerns for me.

3. Yu Darvish wins the Cy Young

Well, this wasn't a bad call. Darvish's 2.64 ERA is fourth in the American League, whilst he leads the Majors with a ridiculous 207 strikeouts in 153 innings. The 12-5 record is good, but he is probably playing second fiddle to Max Scherzer in the Cy Young race thanks to his ridiculous 17-1 record. If Darvish can be strong down the stretch and guide the Rangers into the post-season, he could be my best prediction so far.

4. The Nationals win 110 games

Wow. At 59-61, Washington has been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball, and look certain to miss out on the play-offs, never mind challenge this lofty wins total. My worst prediction, and by quite some way.

5. Adam Dunn has more strikeouts than any pitcher in baseball

Adam Dunn has actually cut down on his strikeouts this season, and whilst he may challenge the 200 mark once again, he won't even lead hitters in this category, never mind pitchers. Chris Carter and Mike Napoli are the front-runners, but don't look like challenging Darvish.

Not a lot to love there... how about my five breakout candidates?

1. Matt Moore, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

If you just look at win-loss record, you could be fooled into thinking Moore has taken great strides this season, as his 14-3 record is one of the best in the Majors. In reality, Moore has battled more inconsistency, as the strikeouts are barely better than league average and his control problems continue to put runners on base. The .212 average against is solid, but if Moore is going to become the next Kershaw, he needs to improve his fastball command and get access to his devastating change-up and curveball.

2. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Kansas City Royals

For a couple of months this looked like a terrible call, as Hosmer scuffled at the plate, hitting one homer in April and May whilst slugging just .333. After George Brett's installation as hitting coach, Hosmer suddenly came alive, hitting .303/.347/.541 in June with six homers and .324/.351/.495 in July with four more dingers. He's suffered from another power outage so far in July, but the .295 average is solid and he has shown at least glimpses of the promise he showed in his rookie season.

3. Andrelton Simmons, SS, Atlanta Braves

As I wrote at the beginning of the season, Simmons is going to be the best defensive shortstop in the National League. In fact, he's going to be the best defensive player in the Major Leagues, possibly even the best in history. Much has been made of Simmons ridiculous range, instincts, glove and of course arm at shortstop, and whilst the bat has been disappointing (.284 OBP, .360 SLG), Simmons has still accrued 2.9 wins above replacement, thanks entirely to his ridiculous defense.

4. Carlos Santana, C, Cleveland Indians

Santana got off to a rip-roaring start, hitting .389/.476/.722 in April. However, he hit just .200 with little power in May and has continued to struggle for power since, with just nine homers since April. His elite plate discipline allows him to draw walks even when his bat isn't firing, which is extremely useful, but it appears he will never hit above .250, and the 27 homer 2011 season may have been an outlier.

5. Jean Segura, SS, Milwaukee Brewers

My best call of the five, Segura has been excellent for the Brewers this season, putting up a .309/.344/.456 triple-slash and 4.2 WAR. His plate discipline is questionable, but Segura makes plenty of contact and has stolen 35 bases this season, as well as flashing some pop with twelve homers. He's struggled a little more in the past few months, particularly in the power department, but appears to have the skills to be a five win player with some consistency, which is a major coup for the Brewers who acquired him in return for Zack Greinke last season.

And finally, who did I pick to win their respective divisions?

AL East - Toronto Blue Jays

If I'm going to strike out in the NL East, I may as well make it the AL East too...

AL Central - Detroit Tigers

No surprises that the Tigers are having another strong season, and they've pulled away from the pack more in recent weeks.

AL West - Texas Rangers

The Rangers hold a slim lead at the moment, but once again have the Athletics breathing right down their neck.

NL East - Washington Nationals

The only reason they're second in the division is because the Mets, Phillies and Marlins are even worse.

NL Central - Cincinnati Reds

The Reds are having a strong season, with a 69-52 record, but right now they are just third in the division, as the surprise Pirates and consistent Cardinals continue to impress. There will be three teams in the post-season from this division.

NL West - San Francisco Giants

The Giants have been woeful this season, as Madison Bumgarner has been there only reliable starter and the offense has been extremely weak. They currently sit last in the division with a 53-67 record.


So overall, not a brilliant set of predictions! They play 162 games for a reason, and the NL Central race in particular will be fascinating to watch, but I don't expect any of these poor guesses to come true.

My all-star ballot

With all-star voting closing two days ago, the prolonged and confusing system of voting in the game's top players finally came to a close. The all-star game has become something of an enigma, with no obvious rhyme or reasoning. Commissioner Bud Selig changed the format to make it competitive, with the winner of the all-star game gaining home field advantage for that season's World Series. This new dimension seemed to give the all-star game an added edge that it hadn't had before, but in reality the game is played in the same lackadaisical, exhibition-esque manner that it used to be. So what are fans supposed to be voting for? Are they supposed to be voting for the best team possible to win the game? Or are they supposed to be voting for that season's top performers, regardless of previous results? Or, as team twitter pages would like you to believe, are they supposed to be voting for every player on the team they support?

Personally, I tend to vote for this season's top performers, but it is very easy to see why there is so much confusion. Anyway, enough moaning about the format, I hereby present my 2013 all-star rosters:

National League

Catcher - Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants

This is a really tough position. Posey and Molina are the two best back-stops in the game today, and they are almost impossible to separate. Molina has the edge in average, but their OBP's are almost identical. Posey has the edge in slugging and power, but Molina is generally considered the best defensive catcher in baseball. Ultimately, it's a dead heat, with the two players offering different skill-sets that ultimately bring this question down to a hitting v defense question. For the one-game shootout, I'm going to take the potency of Posey's bat over Molina's solid glove, but both players are worthy of selection.

First base - Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds

Paul Goldschmidt has generated a lot of momentum on all-star ballots, and his .304/.381/.553 triple-slash would usually be more than enough to secure his spot on my team. But then Joey Votto might just be the best pure hitter in baseball, and his stupendous .325/.433/.520 slash-line is enough for him to get my nod. Goldy has 20 home runs to Votto's 15, but Votto has the clear edge in on-base ability, and that is the single most important skill in my opinion.

Second base - Matt Carpenter - St Louis Cardinals

The field at second base is much weaker in the National League than the American League, as six of the top seven players in terms of WAR are in the American League. That one player from the NL just happens to be top of the list with 4.2 WAR, as Matt Carpenter is having a superb season with the Redbirds. His .320 average is superb, the .393 OBP is elite and the .488 slugging percentage is very good indeed for a weak position. Perhaps most surprising has been Carpenter's ability to catch on at a new position, as defense at second base has actually been above-average. He is the worthy all-star at this position.

Shortstop - Jean Segura - Milwaukee Brewers

With Troy Tulowitzki out with an injury, the NL race at shortstop becomes more interesting. Everth Cabrera of the Padres actually leads the Majors in WAR whilst Ian Desmond's 15 home runs are tops at the position. My vote goes to all-around stud Jean Segura however, who has been quietly superb with the Brewers this year. The .322 average is superb, and though he has a low walk rate, he has slugged .493 with 11 home runs and 26 steals. Segura may never be an MVP candidate, but he looks like an excellent player who should make all-star ballots every season.

Third base - David Wright - New York Mets

Whilst the third base crop in the American League is buzzing with talent, it's rather more empty in the National League, making Wright an easy selection as the starting third baseman. The .305/.396/.524 triple-slash is excellent, and Wright has made himself into one of the best hitters in baseball despite propping up a pretty hopeless offensive team. The 14 steals are just an added bonus, as one of the best all-round players in the game deserves his team in the limelight at his home all-star game.

Outfield - Carlos Gonzalez - Colorado Rockies

Gonzalez tends to get overlooked during discussions of the game's best players, because of his gaudy home/away splits and the fact he plays for a non-contender. This season, however, he has forced himself into discussions, with a .295/.362/.605 triple-slash whilst putting up better numbers on the road than at Coors Field. His 23 home runs lead NL outfielders and the .310 isolated power is second best in the Majors among all hitters. The fact he has 15 steals is just icing on the cake.

Outfield - Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates

McCutchen had a ridiculous first half last season before fading down the stretch, but he'll have a chance to amend for that this season after another monster first few months. His .298/.370/.467 triple-slash is impressive in it's own right, regardless of the fact he has no line-up protection. The nine home runs aren't that impressive, but he's stolen 18 bases and plays elite defense in center field.

Outfield - Carlos Beltran - St Louis Cardinals

The 36 year old veteran appeared to be heading towards the end of his career after dropping off in the second half of last season, but he has looked anything but done so far this season. The .305 average is superb and his 19 homers put him on pace for his most since 2006. The defensive metrics don't like Beltran in right field, but it's hard to ignore his ability with the bat, and another all-star appearance would be just reward for one of the best sluggers in the game, particularly given his history with the Mets.

Starting pitcher - Matt Harvey - New York Mets

No, he's not the best pitcher in the National League. That honour goes to Clayton Kershaw. In fact, he may not even be second best, with Adam Wainwright returning to imperious form. But he is one of the most exciting pitchers in the Majors, and his 2.27 ERA is simply ridiculous in it's own right. With the game being played at Citi Field, it only seems right that Harvey be given the chance to start the game off, and his electric stuff will make the game exciting from the first pitch.

American League

Catcher - Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins

Whilst Molina and Posey battle it out in the NL, there's really no contest in the American League, as Mauer is the best catcher by far. He is a perennial batting title threat, with monstrous OBP's and is even hitting for some power this season with eight home runs. His defense is also superb, and whilst the K rate is alarmingly high by his standards this season, he's still far and away one of the top offensive performers in the Majors. Carlos Santana got off to a hot start offensively but has been unable to keep it up, whilst Matt Wieters looks unlikely to ever come through on his minor league hype.

First base - Chris Davis - Baltimore Orioles

This really is no contest. Davis' first half has been stupendously good, with a .325 average, .401 OBP and unbelievable .717 slugging. His 32 home runs set the Major League pace with ease and his .392 isolated power mark would be the highest figure since Barry Bonds broke baseball in 2004. In fact, literally as I write this Davis muscles a home run over the center field fence at Yankee Stadium. He is insanely strong. Insanely strong.

Second base - Jason Kipnis - Cleveland Indians

Things get more interesting at second base. Dustin Pedroia's .323 average and .404 on-base percentage both lead the position, whilst Robinson Cano's 20 homers are tops at second base. I'm giving the nod to the man who can cover all bases, as Kipnis has hit .300 with a .385 OBP along with 13 homers and 19 steals. The strikeout rate is quite high, but Kipnis has been crushing the ball for a while now with the Indians, and deserves the nod at second base for his strong all-round game. I couldn't begrudge Cano the start, but my personal pick is Kipnis.

Shortstop - Jhonny Peralta - Detroit Tigers

The AL crop at shortstop is just awful this season, and even in limited playing time, Jose Reyes has been one of the best performers. With just 20 games under his belt, it's hard to justify voting him in however, so Jhonny Peralta gets the nod. His .306 average and .364 OBP are both very fine stats indeed, particularly given his offensive struggles in recent seasons, whilst the defensive metrics actually look good for the traditionally awful shortstop. With just seven homers and two steals, he's not doing a lot outside hitting, and it would be interesting if practically impossible to see Manny Machado given a chance at his natural position in the all-star game.

Third base - Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers

Where the choice is awful at shortstop, it is more than made up for at the hot corner. Miguel Cabrera is the best offensive player in the game, with a .361 average, .451 OBP and .663 slugging. His 26 homers are second best in the Majors, whilst his 86 RBI are ridiculous considering we aren't yet at the all-star break. Manny Machado is clearly superior defensively, whilst Evan Longoria is putting up MVP numbers, but you'll take Cabrera's poor defense in return for his other-wordly production at the plate.

Outfield - Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels

It says a lot about how good his 2012 season when you consider Mike Trout has regressed this season but is still the best oufielder in the American League. The .319 average is elite, whilst he has shown superb patience that gives him an impressive .390 OBP. The 13 home runs give him another chance to challenge 30 homers whilst the 20 steals are actually disappointing for a player of Trout's speed. He is quite some talent.

Outfield - José Bautista - Toronto Blue Jays

After struggling a little last season with a wrist injury, Bautista has bounced right back this season, with 20 homers and a .364 OBP as his K rate and BB rate begin to get closer and closer. His .271 BABIP actually suggests he has been a little unlucky this season, so the .267 average may rise, but regardless of that he has been a top performer for the Blue Jays and should be the starting right fielder for the AL.

Outfield - Alex Gordon - Kansas City Royals

Gordon has quietly turned into a very effective hitter for the Royals, with consistently high averages, on-base percentages and slugging percentages. After struggling a little this season along with the rest of the Royals line-up, he has improved of late and has a .292/.351/.426 triple-slash to go with his elite defense in left field. This spot could easily go to Adam Jones, Jacoby Ellsbury or Nelson Cruz, but Gordon gets the nod for me.

Designated hitter - David Ortiz - Boston Red Sox

After missing most of April with an achilles injury, Ortiz has been one of the best hitters in the game since then. His .321 average is excellent, especially for a guy who can't run, whilst the .409 OBP is superb and the .615 slugging needs no explanation. His 17 homers would be impressive even for a guy who hadn't missed 15 games, whilst his impeccable BB/K ratio proves what a skilled hitter he has become.

Starting pitcher - Yu Darvish - Texas Rangers

I can think of no pitching match-up more exciting than Harvey-Darvish. Both guys have electric stuff and would make for fascinating viewing. Darvish boasts a 2.78 ERA and 12 K/9 ratio and has been the ace of the Rangers rotation. Max Scherzer, King Felix or Chris Sale would be worthy of the nod, but Darvish would be my starter because of his incredible raw stuff.


Do you agree or disagree? What do you make of the voting format? We'll find out what the final results were later tonight, and I'm sure there'll be some disgruntled fans out there...

Carlos Gomez is a defensive wizard

My favourite aspect of the game of baseball is defense. When you watch players go out into the field and make spectacular plays look routine every night, it becomes easy to forget how hard it is to stop, catch or throw a baseball as well as they do. Anyone who has tried making an over-the-shoulder catch, or barehanding a chopper, or making a 90 foot throw to first off their back foot will appreciate the raw athleticism that you need to play defense, and this appreciation of incredible glovework has made players like Brendan Ryan, Brandon Crawford and Andrelton Simmons much more viable in the modern game. But one player in particular has stood out to me this season on defense, and that is Carlos Gomez of the Milwaukee Brewers.

He has long been an above-average defender in center field, with positive DRS every season, and he is no stranger to highlight reels as his excellent speed allows him to make spectacular plays frequently. This season, however, he has been able to pull off those highlight reel plays with an extraordinary amount of consistency. This image created by Mark Simon of ESPN shows Gomez's incredible ability to go back on balls hit over his head this season:

Of 35 balls hit over his head, Gomez has been able to catch 34 of them. That is an incredible stat, and perhaps frustratingly for Gomez, this one play he was not able to make was routine by his incredible standards. Gomez is putting together an excellent offensive season, but it's his ridiculous glovework that has me sitting up and watching, and here are a few glimpses at those over-his-head plays:

And they are just three of many. Gomez continues to give Brewers fans something worth watching, and his incredible record on balls over his head bears watching for the rest of the season.

Assessing the early rookie of the year candidates

Following on from my posts earlier this week on early Cy Young candidates and early MVP candidates, the mini series is concluded today with a look at the excelling rookies. Once again, this isn't an exhaustive list and I'll undoubtedly miss a couple of guys, but these are some of the interesting rookies to watch in the second half...

The AL ROTY Race

The front-runner - José Iglesias

After last season's bumper AL rookie crop that included Trout, Darvish, Cespedes and Moore, this year has been a major disappointment. Some early favourites have only just been called up, in the form of Jurickson Profar and Wil Myers, but the best AL rookie so far this season, at least in terms of WAR, has been Jose Iglesias of the Red Sox with 1.6 wins. He's played in just 31 games, and so has an unsustainable .431 average in his 114 plate appearances, boosted by a .494 BABIP. He has little power or speed, and is generally viewed as a glove-first shortstop, who would probably bat 8th on most AL teams. Whilst he has been a nice surprise for the Sox this season, I don't expect him to scoop up the award come October.

Overall verdict: Unsustainable hitting has him leading crop, odds are stacked against him to keep it up.

The top prospect - Jurickson Profar

Profar finally got his much-anticipated season underway a month ago when Kinsler hit the DL, and whilst his stats have been good enough to keep him on the big league roster, they aren't quite ROTY calibre yet. The .269 average is fine, but with just one homer and one steal, he hasn't been providing much other value, and is now being played out of position in the outfield. Profar is good enough to suddenly go on a tear, as he did at AAA, but it hasn't quite been the rookie season that some expected from him so far.

Overall verdict: He may be a future star, but Profar has some way to go to secure ROTY honours.

The pitching stud - Dan Straily

The A's had a rookie-filled rotation last season, and though Straily played a part in it towards the end of the season, he was able to maintain his rookie eligibility and has been very effective so far this year for the A's. The 4.97 ERA isn't particularly impressive, but the 3.56 FIP prove he has been unlucky, whilst the 1.2 WAR leads all AL pitchers. Rangers rookies Nick Tepesch and Justin Grimm both got off to fast starts but have regressed towards the mean in recent weeks.

Overall verdict: There's no Darvish in this year's crop, but maybe a Matt Harvey type will spring from the woodwork.

The dark horse - Nick Franklin

The Mariners have a far from perfect record with young hitting prospects in recent seasons, but so far this season they have been unable to ruin Nick Franklin. The switch-hitting middle infielder has spent most of his time at second base and the .277 average with four homers and three steals have been a nice bonus for the M's. Coming into the season, a big criticism was his poor approach batting right-handed, and it appeared he may become a full-time lefty, but so far this season his .280 average with one home run against lefties suggest he may have made some adjustments. If Franklin can continue to hit around the .280 mark with some power and speed, he could be a good shot at the ROTY award.

Overall verdict: Franklin won't earn much attention in Seattle, but is quietly making up for his lost time.

The NL ROTY Race

The front-runner - Shelby Miller

Miller has been dominant for the Cardinals so far this season, with a ridiculous 2.08 ERA and a K/9 rate of over 10. His fastball has overpowered even the most hardened Major League hitters with his pinpoint control, whilst the breaking ball has drawn comparisons to fellow red-bird Adam Wainwright. The 8-4 record is worthy of a ROTY winner, and if Miller can build on this hot start to win 15 games with a sub-3 ERA, he could well be a shoo-in for the award.

Overall verdict: If Miller can keep this up, he could be in with a shot at the Cy Young, never mind ROTY

The top prospect - José Fernandez

Mike Trout had the greatest age-20 season in baseball history last season on his way to the rookie of the year and second place in MVP balloting. Fernandez is doing his best to provide a solid encore on the mound. Despite having pitched a handful of innings at a level higher than A-ball to enter the season, Fernandez has been superb, with a 3.05 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning. He doesn't have much run support or publicity, pitching on a woeful Marlins roster, but if he continues to dominate every fifth day he may begin to earn some more respect.

Overall verdict: Has been quietly superb, now can he keep it up.

The hitting stud - Evan Gattis

Seeing as the front-runner and top prospect were pitchers, I figured I would provide some balance with a hitter at this point. Gattis got off to a rip-roaring start with the Braves, and though his role has been reduced with the return of McCann and his recent struggles against right-handed pitching, he still leads NL hitters with 1.9 WAR. The .317 OBP isn't particularly impressive, but the 14 homers are, and if he can earn enough at-bats to be productive over the course of the season then he could be in with a good shot at the ROTY title.

Overall verdict: Tough class and lack of playing time may cost Gattis.

The dark horse - Yasiel Puig

Puig has set the league on fire in his first two weeks, hitting .455 with a .773 slugging over his first 17 games, and compiling an extraordinary 1.3 WAR already. He has socked six homers and stolen a pair of bases, all the while enthralling crowds with his all-out style of play. He's already drawn comparisons to Bo Jackson, and some believe he is putting in the 'Mike Trout season' for 2013. It's too early to christen him a hall-of-famer after 17 games of course, and though he has made great strides towards the ROTY title, he will have to deal with some regression (at least we think he will) and needs to stay healthy all year.

Overall verdict: Incredible start has thrown him into contention - can he keep it going?


Eight guys who are in the mix for their respective ROTY titles, and it is of course possible that the award winners aren't even in the Majors yet, with guys like Wil Myers and Oscar Taveras either just up or still in the minors. In a reverse of last season, this year's AL crop is very thin, whilst the NL is bulging with talents beyond those I've outlined, such as Hyun-Jin Ryu and Jedd Gyorko.

Assessing the early Cy Young candidates

Following on from yesterday's post on MVP candidates, today I'll present the early frontrunners for the Cy Young awards... It's worth pointing out that this is not an exhaustive list of all candidates, but a spotlight on a few of the major ones.

The AL Cy Young Race

The front-runner - Hisashi Iwakuma

It's really tough to pick a front-runner in the AL Cy Young race, because there are so many leading candidates bunched up together. Considering that Iwakuma has three more starts than Buchholz under his belt, he gets the nod, but it could easily have been the Boston ace instead. Iwakuma has been dominant since last season's all-star break, giving him nearly a full season of ace-caliber performances. His 2.06 ERA is insane, his 0.89 WHIP unsurprisingly leads the league, and the 90 strikeouts in 100 innings are very healthy indeed. I'm not sure how long he can sustain this success for, but as he continues to rack up wins, strikeouts and lower that ERA, his Cy Young credentials are only getting better.

Overall verdict: Has been dominant so far, but can he keep it up all season?

The perennial ace - Felix Hernandez

It says something of the quality of your hitting when your team has two of the top pitchers in baseball but is only 32-40. The Mariners certainly don't have the top of their rotation to blame, as Hernandez has been as good as his battery mate Iwakuma this season. It's easy to overlook how good he's been because, well, we expect it of Hernandez now, but a 2.32 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 104 innings is very special indeed. He's throwing his change-up more than ever this season, and despite the fact that it is just 3mph slower than his average fastball, it continues to be one of the most devastating pitches in the Majors. The King continues to go about his work, largely unnoticed, but it would shock nobody to see him atop the major pitching categories at the end of the season, making him a strong contender once again.

Overall verdict: Mariners woes may hold him back, but King is worthy of another Cy Young crown.

The 'where did this guy come from' - Ervin Santana

Yes, the very same Ervin Santana that allowed 39 home runs last year with a 5.16 ERA. Well, this year Santana has been outstanding with the Royals, with a 2.64 ERA and minuscule 0.98 WHIP. The 14 home runs suggest that the fly ball problem is still underlying for Santana, but he is striking out hitters at a solid rate and has dramatically reduced the walk rate from 3 BB/9 to just 1.5 BB/9. The 3.88 FIP suggests regression may be due, but regardless of how he's done it, Santana has genuinely made himself into one of the better pitchers in the AL in the first half of the season, and has earned his place on a list of Cy Young contenders.

Overall verdict: Walk and strikeout rates are promising, but how long will it be until home run problem returns?

The strikeout machine - Yu Darvish

Darvish was my early pick for Cy Young, and he has shown flashes of pure brilliance this season, as evidenced by the other-wordly 137 strikeouts in 101 innings. The 2.84 ERA is still ridiculously good, but walks have plagued him a bit, and the home runs will always be an issue in Arlington. There are few pitchers more likely to throw a no hitter this season, because when Darvish is locating his fastball, the off-speed stuff is just untouchable. If he can begin to develop any kind of consistency, then he'll push himself right to the front of the Cy Young race, although he hasn't won a game in over a month due to poor run support.

Overall verdict: Improved control has Darvish cruising into contention.

The dark horse - Anibal Sanchez

Sanchez had been an effective pitcher with the Marlins, with several seasons of mid-3 ERA's under his belt. This season, however, he has taken his game to the next step, with an outstanding 2.76 ERA and extraordinary 11.13 K/9. Perhaps most impressively, advanced metrics suggest that Sanchez has suffered from bad luck, with a ridiculous 2.06 FIP. Largely unnoticed in a rotation full of aces, Sanchez is putting together an outstanding season with Detroit, and may find himself embroiled in a Cy Young race come September.

Overall verdict: Strikeout dominance taking Sanchez into unknown territories - can he keep it up?

Notable mentions to Chris Sale, Max Scherzer and Alex Cobb who are also having outstanding seasons.

The NL Cy Young Race

The front-runner - Adam Wainwright

Again, there are so many potential front-runners, but Adam Wainwright's 10-4 record swings it, even though pitcher wins and losses are meaningless to everyone but the Cy Young voters. His 2.37 ERA isn't too bad either, and the 1.01 WHIP is fairly outstanding. Perhaps most impressive is the fact he has ceded nine (9) walks in 110 innings, which is an indicator of just how outstanding his command is. He's allowed just four home runs all season, and has struck out 100 hitters - Wainwright is truly at the top of his game as he guides the Cardinals towards a play-off berth.

Overall verdict: A dominant season from Wainwright, I'd be shocked if we weren't discussing his name in October.

The perennial ace - Clayton Kershaw

It's hard to describe just how good Clayton Kershaw is. Somehow, the Dodgers have contrived to give him just a 5-4 record on the season, because Kershaw is turning in some of the finest performances you're ever likely to see. His 1.84 ERA is stupendous, and he's striking out hitters at almost a rate of one per inning. Not only that, but Kershaw has earned a reputation for being a better second-half pitcher - his ERA might be something stupid after the all-star break. If Joey Votto has figured out hitting, then Clayton Kershaw has figured out pitching, as he no longer looks to strike hitters out, but just tries to go deep into games, saving the bullpen and being more efficient. Right now, Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball, and at 25 years of age, he might be getting better.

Overall verdict: He probably won't have a 1.84 ERA all season, but then again...

The 'where did this guy come from' - Shelby Miller

Miller was able to win a tough battle in Spring Training to earn the final spot in the St Louis rotation, and he's looked pretty good since then. The 22 year old rookie has been dominant, with just two pitches, on his way to a 2.08 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 86 innings. The Cardinals are understandably being cautious with Miller, and an innings cap of around 180 innings seems likely, but if Miller can have an ERA around 2 for the rest of the season, he might only need 180. His fastball control is equal to that of a 30 year old veteran, and even though his curveball is really his only other pitch, he has kept hitters floundering away all season.

Overall verdict: Hitters may adjust, but this has been an outstanding debut season for Miller.

The strikeout machine - Matt Harvey

Coming up through the minor leagues, scouts doubted Harvey's ability to pitch in the Majors because of a lack of a good breaking ball. His fastball and change-up were both outstanding, but his slider hadn't really developed and the curveball was a work in progress. Well, fast forward a year, and Harvey has one of the filthiest sliders in the Majors. His fastball runs up to 100mph with great life, and he complements it with a sharp 90mph slider that he throws to both right and left-handed hitters. The change-up has taken somewhat of a back-seat, but it's still a swing and miss pitch, and his 2.16 ERA with 115 strikeouts is testament to his ability. He has lost just one decision all season, although he's only won six, but his filthy stuff looks like it'll keep him in Cy Young discussions all year.

Overall verdict: Harvey is a lone bright spark in an otherwise appalling Mets roster - will he get the run support to take home a Cy Young?

The dark horse - Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee has long been one of the most underrated pitchers in the Major Leagues, and it's tough to understand why. His 2.53 ERA is outstanding, and this year he is finally getting run support, with a strong 9-2 record. Like Wainwright, he is stingy with free passes, allowing just 17 in 110 innings, but he also has good strikeout stuff, sitting down 98 hitters. Lee's name is likely to pop up consistently around the trade deadline, and a move to a contending team may boost his Cy Young prospects. With so many pitchers having break-out seasons, it's easy to forget the consistently great pitchers like Lee, but he's a definite dark horse for the Cy Young award.

Overall verdict: He might not win the award, but Lee continues to put up Cy-calibre numbers.

Notable mentions to Patrick Corbin and Jordan Zimmermann.


So, there you have it, a brief overview of the top Cy Young candidates in each league. For the record, I still believe Yu Darvish will take the AL crown, and see Clayton Kershaw taking the title in the NL.

Assessing the early MVP candidates

With over two months of baseball already in the books, now would appear to be a good time to take a look at the early season candidates for the MVP, ROTY and Cy Young awards. Of course, a lot will change between today and the end of the season, but seeing which players fizzled out over the second half will be interesting.

The AL MVP Race

Front-runner - Miguel Cabrera

After raking his way to the triple crown and subsequently the MVP award last season, Cabrera has only gone and hit even better this season, with a .358/.451/.638 triple-slash and 19 home runs. He looks like being at the heart of another triple crown race, and whilst his defensive metrics let him down a bit (-6 DRS), his offensive game is so spectacular that he has made himself the early favourite once again. It wouldn't surprise me to see him lead the league in average and RBI once again, although I think he'll be hard-pressed to win the home run crown this season. If he can end the season with a .335/.420/.600 triple-slash, he'll have surely done enough to secure back-to-back MVP awards.

Overall verdict: It's going to take some serious regression or a tough-luck injury to slow down Cabrera.

The break-out guy - Chris Davis

Not many people would have had Chris Davis on their MVP ballot to start the season, but his major-league leading 24 home runs are beginning to turn some heads. The .337 average is boosted by an unsustainable .386 BABIP, but he has reduced his strikeout percentage from 30% to 25% and boosted his walk rate from 6.6% to 11%, suggesting an average in the high .200's could be a distinct possibility. Like Cabrera, Davis doesn't gain any value from his base-running or defense, but his bat is so hot that he will be breathing down Cabrera's neck to the end. If he wants to win the MVP award, he's going to need to lead the league in homers, whilst batting .300 and taking the Orioles to another post-season. I think he's due for some regression, but Davis could yet be in the picture come October.

Overall verdict: The power is legit, but his lack of history might hold him back.

The wily veteran - David Ortiz

I spoke at length earlier in the season about Ortiz, and how I expected him to have a big year. Up until his injury last season, his numbers were on pace with Miguel Cabrera, and so far this season he has not let me down. After missing most of the first month with the lingering achilles problem, Ortiz has been furiously making up the lost ground since then, with a .299 average, .382 OBP and .599 slugging percentage as well as 14 big flies. If he can stay healthy all season, he should be a great producer in every hitting category, and whilst the early injury will hold him back in the counting stats, he will profit from a good storyline if the Red Sox make the play-offs.

Overall verdict: Early injury and lack of position will inhibit his chances.

The 5-tool youngster - Mike Trout

Some people (myself included) believe that Trout should have won the MVP award last season, but Trout has not rested on his laurels and has come back out swinging this year. The .305 average and .382 OBP are behind last season's paces, but a .330 average was never sustainable, and Trout still has time to bump it up with a monster second half. The power is once again on display, with 12 home runs, whilst his 15 steals and elite defense (despite what the defensive metrics say) in the outfield give him an added dimension that the other candidates do not possess. Trout is probably behind in the race for the award so far this season, but a big second half could propel him right back into the running.

Overall verdict: Regression from his 2012 numbers and Angels poor start leave Trout playing catch-up.

The NL MVP Race

Front-runner - Carlos Gonzalez

Unlike in the American League, there is no obvious front-runner in the NL, but largely unnoticed, Carlos Gonzalez has been putting up monster numbers for the Rockies. The .311 average is nothing beyond his capabilities, as he hit .336 in 2010 on his way to the NL batting title and has been around .300 for his whole career at Coors. His K rate is actually up from last season, at 25%, but the walk rate has been bumped up too, to 11.4%, suggesting more patience from a typically aggressive hitter. Where has has excelled this season is in the power department, with an NL leading 20 homers and .640 slugging. This is largely thanks to a titanic increase in fly-ball percentage from 30% to 42%, whilst the HR/FB rate has also increased to 25%, which isn't unsustainable at Coors. The most shocking thing, has perhaps been his road hitting ability, as the one criticism of Gonzalez had always been his inability to hit outside Coors. He's actually hitting much better on the road, with a .348 average and 11 homers, but his frailty has prevented him from playing more than 145 games before in his career. His 13 steals also make him a decent threat for a 30/30 season, although on his current paces a 40/30 season wouldn't be beyond reach.

Overall verdict: Gonzalez isn't getting the credit his season deserves, but if he stays healthy all season that should change.

The break-out guy - Paul Goldschmidt

Goldschmidt's ability to crush lefties is nothing new, but his new-found ability to crush right-handers too has turned him into one of the best sluggers in the National League. The .305/.386/.556 triple-slash is elite, and the 16 home runs put him on pace for close to 35. Goldschmidt is showing more patience than in recent seasons, and his 61 RBI lead the National League. He has cooled off a bit recently, but is still one of the best young hitters in the league and should be on for a monster season at the heart of the D-Backs line-up. He also has surprising speed for a first baseman, and could quietly steal 15 bases, further boosting his resumé.

Overall verdict: If he can guide the D-Backs into the post-season, he becomes MVP favourite.

The wily veteran - Joey Votto

Votto is the most advanced hitter in the Major Leagues, and his incredible understanding of the game combined with ridiculous hitting ability make every at-bat a fascinating spectacle. Despite the fact his walk percentage is down to 16.7%, Votto leads the majors with 53 walks and the .438 OBP is second only to Cabrera. He may never repeat the 37 homer 2010 campaign, but his 12 home runs aren't negligible, and you get the feeling he could hit 15 in a month if he really turns it on at the plate. Greatness is almost expected from Votto now, and he keeps proving that he is one of the finest pure hitters in the game. The lack of power may inhibit his MVP chances, but his ridiculous ability make him a constant candidate.

Overall verdict: Not a slugger in the usual sense, but video game numbers make him perennial candidate.

The 5-tool youngster - Jean Segura/Carlos Gomez

I've bunched these two early-season stars together, because they have comparable skill-sets and both play for the Brewers. Segura has been a revelation at short-stop this season, with a .330 average to go with 10 homers and 19 steals. He doesn't hit enough fly balls to keep up this home run pace, but the average and steals may well be legitimate, whilst his quality defense at short gives him an excellent all-round game. Meanwhile, Gomez is proving there is more than one CarGo in the MVP picture, as his .317 average is backed by 12 homers and 13 steals. He has been ridiculous on defense in center field, and if he can keep up the hot hitting, he could be a real sleeper MVP candidate considering the depth of his production. Both players are limited by the fact that the Brewers are not a competitive team, but they provide a bright future for this franchise up the middle of the field.

Overall verdict: Will need monster second-halfs to put themselves in contention, but their all-round games are very impressive indeed.

So, there you have it. A quick summation of the MVP prospects in both leagues - which guys do you fancy do still be on this list come September?

Notable mention must be given to Troy Tulowitzki, who was putting up MVP numbers until the latest in a series of injuries.

Are the Cleveland Indians for real?

Last season, the Detroit Tigers were hampered all season by a dogged chase from the Chicago White Sox, who stayed with them all the way into September until fading in the final few weeks. Few expected them to face as much trouble this season, but after two months they sit just 0.5 games clear in the AL Central. It's not the White Sox causing them problems this time, but the resurgent Cleveland Indians. Their 29-24 record is keeping pace with the AL front-runners and this is despite going 3-7 in their past 10 games. This is nothing new. At this point last season, the Indians were doing exactly the same thing as their 27-23 record was making them look like a competitive team. Ultimately they were very disappointing in the second half and ended up with an atrocious 68-94 record, barely avoiding the AL Central wooden spoon. What makes anyone think this year will be different?

Well, for starters, Terry Francona is a very, very good manager. After spending a year away from baseball following his sacking as manager of the Red Sox, Francona got back into managing at the helm of the Indians squad. Although their hot start can't be placed solely on the shoulders of the manager, Francona has clearly had some effect on the players, and more noticeably he has been a good in-game tactician. His team has been running wild on the bases, with 39 steals (good for fourth in the AL) despite having few obvious base-stealers outside the speedy Michael Bourn. His team also ranks fourth-last in the league in sacrifice bunts, and second in the league in home runs. The team isn't playing for three one-run innings, but for that one seven-run inning, as they did last night when they put seven two-out runs on the board in the fourth inning against the Reds.

Of course, Francona isn't the man at the dish driving those runs in, and the offense has been the main strong point for this team so far. Michael Bourn has been a sparkplug atop the line-up, hitting .311 with a .359 OBP and eight steals, despite missing two weeks with a hand injury. Heavy hitting catcher Carlos Santana has cooled off a bit after his .350 start, but a .284/.396/.503 triple-slash is heady production. Mark Reynolds has torn the leather off the ball so far in Cleveland, leading the team with 13 jacks and 41 runs batted in whilst fellow free agent acquisition Nick Swisher is doing everything asked of him with a .363 OBP. This is a team that hits for a lot of power, and draws a lot of walks. It also has great depth, with back-up catcher Yan Gomes demanding more playing time to go with his .319 average, and part-time players like Raburn, Stubbs and Aviles all contributing when needed. This might not be the best offense in the American League, but it's probably the most underrated.

And now onto the pitching staff. Justin Masterson has so far been a legitimate ace for the Tribe, going 8-3 with a 3.07 ERA and 83 strikeouts in just 82 innings. His 1.7 WAR is already nearing last seasons 2.0 mark as he has proven more able at keeping the ball in the yard. Left-handers still own a significant platoon advantage, but there's recent to think Masterson can continue being an effective workhorse. After him, however, things get a little more shaky. Zach McAllister has an impressive 3.08 ERA in 61.1 innings, but his xFIP of 4.48 shows he has gotten a little lucky with his strand rate and HR/FB rate. Whilst there's reason to think he can sustain an ERA around 4, I don't think he'll continue to be this effective all season, so regression seems pretty likely. Ubaldo Jimenez has been nothing short of atrocious in his time at Cleveland, and the 5.57 ERA this season is testament to that. His xFIP of 3.82 shows he's actually been unlucky this season, as the 17.8% HR/FB rate seems high, even for an erratic pitcher like Jimenez. The strikeouts are at least improving, as he has 53 K's in 51.2 innings, but even if Jimenez benefits from more luck, it's hard to think he'll ever return to his Rockies form.

In the bullpen, what started as a solid foundation has quickly crumbled in recent weeks, as closer Chris Perez has been sidelined with rotator cuff tendinitis, and his fill-in Vinnie Pestano has been unable to discover his usually dominant form after an injury that kept him sidelined earlier this month. Joe Smith has actually been a superb option, and is slowly earning the trust of his manager, which tends to happen when you own a 1.00 ERA and 19/5 K/BB ratio. The bullpen should improve, especially Pestano and Perez, though I still think the Indians would be wise to trade the latter as soon as they get a decent offer. Intriguing rookie Trevor Bauer has made a few spot-starts for the Indians, contrasting nigh-unhittable stuff with an inability to throw strikes. He should make the jump to the rotation full time at some point this season, but there's not much more impact to come from the minors unfortunately.

So, what can we expect from this point forward? So far the gutsy off-season moves have paid dividends as the hitters have been on fire. Their schedule to begin May is pretty friendly, although the three game set in Detroit should be a good tussle. Towards the end of the month, however, things get a lot trickier, as the Indians play the Tigers, Red Sox, Reds and Rays in consecutive series followed by tough match-ups with the Rangers and Nationals in June. If they can get through those games with first place still in their sights, then it will be time to take them seriously, but the rotation is due for regression and the bullpen is a bit of a mess. Besides, we've seen this script before, and it didn't end well for Indians fans.

Is David Ortiz a hall of famer?

There are few honours greater in baseball than being put in the hall of fame. There are 297 members of the hall of fame, ranging from imperious sluggers to nimble base-stealers to inspirational managers to game-changing umpires. In recent seasons, the hall of fame has become slightly farcical, embroiled in the steroid argument that seems destined to define a generation. It's hard to predict who will end up in the hall of fame when Barry Bonds is unable to make the grade, but the hall continues to serve as the ultimate benchmark of a successful career.

So, on to the player at question. David Ortiz has become the face of the Boston Red Sox franchise over the past few seasons, with his heroic post-season antics combining with his charismatic off-field persona to make a lovable veteran. At the age of 37, there is no doubt that Big Papi is in his twilight years, but as he is proving so far in 2013, he has plenty of production left in the tank with a .333 average and four homers. When his career is finally over, how will retrospect treat him? He's been an excellent player - an exceptional one at times - who has made the designated hitter position his own, but is he hall-of-fame worthy?

The Arguments For

Even the most staunch Yankee fan will concede that Ortiz can hit. He can flat out rake. He has a career batting average of .285 and a healthy career OBP of .380. Of course, slugging is the main part of his game, and a .548 slugging percentage and 405 career homers are testament to that. The 405 home runs would place him exactly 50th amongst hall of fame (and active) players, though you'd like to think another 30-60 should be feasible if has another two seasons left in him. Ortiz would rank 26th amongst hall of fame/active players, making him a worthy entrant on the basis of his bat.

Then of course, you have his post-season play. In 2003 he was the Red Sox best slugger in the post-season, as he almost guided them past the Yankees in an epic ALCS. In 2004, he was successful in doing so, taking the Red Sox to their first championship in 86 years on the back of his .409 average and five homers. His walk-off home run won the ALDS for the Red Sox, another walk off blast in game four and finally a walk-off single in game five of the incredible ALCS series, again against the Yankees. In the 2007 post-season he was once again instrumental as part of the Red Sox championship run. There is a reason he has been pronounced 'the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history'.

Finally, you have his name and image. Whilst David Ortiz's career stats speak for themselves, Big Papi has made himself into the face of the Red Sox franchise and has become a household name in baseball. He has likely become the most famous DH to play the game, and he is an enormously popular player amongst fans. As I'll discuss later, the PED link from earlier in his career will do him no favours, but he has done an excellent job of shaking off this image and becoming an ambassador for the game of baseball.

The Arguments Against

Although Papi's offensive stats may be comparably to the Hall of Fame, his WAR certainly is not. His career mark of 40.3 WAR would leave him 304th in history, barely above Rafael Furcal. Of course, the main reason for this is the total lack of defense to his game, as his entire career has been restricted to the designated hitter role. On bat alone, Ortiz may be a hall of fame candidate, but the fact that he's not even serviceable enough to play first base for a major league team tells us everything we need to know about his defense. And that's before we get started on his base-running value.

And being the DH doesn't just hold back his WAR and defensive metrics. There is something of a DH stigma amongst hall of fame voters, who have tended to ignore hit-only players. Edgar Martinez, a designated hitter who arguably boasts better offensive stats than David Ortiz is yet to get into the hall of fame, and was able to achieve just 36.5% of the vote in 2012 balloting. It's hard to imagine the voters swaying so much in favour of Ortiz after setting a precedent with Martinez (although voting with their brains is perhaps something the hall of fame voters choose not to do).

Finally, Big Papi's hall of fame case will be hindered by the steroid allegations levied at him earlier in his career. The New York Times revealed in 2009 that Ortiz had failed a drug test in 2003 along with roughly 100 other Major League players. The legitimacy of this claim has since been thrown into doubt, and Ortiz has strongly denied the allegations, but any link to PED's has generally been met with a fairly staunch policy by hall of fame voters (see Bonds, Barry among others). It's possible Ortiz has done enough since these allegations to repair his image, but the mere link will cause some to leave Ortiz off their ballot entirely.

So, what does he need to do?

The way I see it, Ortiz does not get into the hall of fame if he retires today. If he can push up towards and maybe even past 500 career home runs it will be a major step in the right direction, and another excellent post-season or two would do no harm to his case. His bat is still very productive, even if his body is breaking down, so if he can stay on the field he could yet have a few big seasons left in him. Continuing to mould his image as the face of the Red Sox franchise will help too, and it's certainly possible that in five years time we are talking about an almost certain hall of fame candidate.

However, what is really needed is a change in the mindset of hall of fame voters. For as long as the stigma is attached to the designated hitter position and there is a total reluctance to go near players with links to PEDs, Ortiz does not stand a chance. The 2012 voting results highlighted what a farce the hall has become, and it is going to take a change of mindset before players like Ortiz are even considered. His case will be an interesting one to watch when the time comes, but for now we can enjoy watching him tear the leather off the ball in the Red Sox jersey for a few more seasons.

Early Thoughts: AL Central

A month in the books across baseball, and with some teams defying expectations in a good way - hello Rockies - there are others that have been so unimaginably bad that it's hard to think we liked them so much in the pre-season - hey Angels and Blue Jays. It's always tough to read too much into the first month of a season, but here are my early season thoughts of the AL Central representatives:


Kansas City Royals - 15-10

The Royals made a gutsy (and in my opinion, bad) trade in the off-season when they acquired James Shields and laid down a marker that the new mantra was 'win now'. So far, they have been quietly impressive, despite awful starts from youngsters Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas. They've hit .250 and .176 respectively and have combined for zero home runs and just ten RBI. The two guys billed to be future heart of the order hitters have been nothing but disappointing so far. However, Alex Gordon has continued to impress, hitting .323 with some pop, whilst Alcides Escobar has set out to prove that 2012 was no fluke, stealing five bases to go with the .290 average. Billy Butler and Sal Perez are yet to really heat up, but this line-up has been able to manufacture enough runs to win so far.

The area that needed improvement heading into the season was the rotation, and to the credit of the front office, it has been a lot better so far. James Shields has been exactly what they expected from him; a 3.09 ERA and nearly a strikeout per inning, although the run support hasn't been there for him yet as he is stuck with just one win. Somewhat surprisingly, Ervin Santana has been the pick of the starters, with a 2.00 ERA on his way to three wins. Jeremy Guthrie has also been rock solid, with a 3.06 ERA in 32 innings, whilst Wade Davis has recovered from an early season shocker to be a reliable innings eater. The bullpen suffered a little wobble on the road-trip to Philadelphia, but Greg Holland has settled back into the closer's role, with 6 saves in 7 opportunities, whilst Kelvin Herrera has actually struggled of late. Pint-sized reliever Tim Collins continues to defy the doubts scouts had about his size on his way to a lights-out 1.00 ERA at a K per inning as he keeps all left-handed bats quiet.


Detroit Tigers - 15-11

Coming into the year, the consensus AL Central pick was the Detroit Tigers. Partly because they're an excellent team, and partly because the AL Central is the worst division in baseball. So far, the Tigers have profited from the latter, as their 15 wins has kept them near the top of the division. That's not to say that they've played badly of course, with reigning AL MVP Miguel Cabrera hitting .367 with a .442 OBP and veteran Torii Hunter continues to rake with a .375 average through the first month (partly fuelled by a mind-blowing .442 BABIP since the 2012 all-star break). Prince Fielder has jacked six home runs and leads the team with 19 walks, whilst Austin Jackson continues to cement his spot as one of the best center fielders and lead-off hitters in baseball. This line-up is fearsome.

On the mound, the Tigers have a devastating top four on paper, and this fact was highlighted by Anibal Sanchez's ridiculous 17 strikeout performance against the Braves - he is the fourth starter. Verlander hasn't been vintage, which is kind of ridiculous to say considering he owns a 1.95 ERA. It says a lot of how much we expect of him that I hadn't been impressed with what I had seen. Scherzer continues to be a strikeout machine, although his 4.02 ERA shows how he can be inconsistent at times. Fister has been solid but after a strong spring training showing, Rick Porcello has been awful, with an 8.84 ERA and with Drew Smyly impressing out of the bullpen, it's surely a matter of time until Porcello is replaced. I'd like to see him given a chance on a team that actually has an infield defense, but the once-top prospect has been nothing but disappointing in recent seasons. The bullpen was shaky in early season goings, with Phil Coke, Bruce Rondon and Joaquin Benoit all given chances to seize the role, but ultimately the Tigers decided to stick with the devil they know and acquired Jose Valverde. Valverde's stuff is pretty awful, but he has the much-desired 'proven closer' tag, and will get a fair share of chances on this team.

Minnesota Twins - 12-12

The Twins had several games cancelled in the early season goings thanks to bitterly cold weather in Minnesota. When on the field, the team has been able to scratch together a hand .500 record. Joe Mauer has been the lynchpin at the plate, hitting .287 with a pair of home runs, but the meagre 8 RBI must be cause for concern. Josh Willingham has once again been the main power source, smiting five big flies and his 16 walks lead the team. The line-up is still far from impressive however, as bit-part players like Mastroianni, Parmelee and Plouffe have struggled. Aaron Hicks shocking early showings led to his demotion, whilst rookie Oswaldo Arcia may be one to watch for the future.

The rotation was the main areas of weakness I identified in the pre-season, but after a shaky start it has begun to put together some better showings of late. Kevin Correia has been the ace, with three wins and a 2.23 ERA in 36 innings of work. His low K rate suggests this is likely a lucky start, but the Twins will take all the luck they can get this season. Vance Worley and Mike Pelfrey have both been disastrous so far this season, with a 7.22 and 7.66 ERA respectively. However, the bullpen has been pretty solid, with closer Glen Perkins saving all six opportunities granted to him as well as striking out a hitter per inning. A brief look at the stats suggests this team is outperforming itself, and whilst there are some bright sparks, this rotation just isn't good enough to allow them to contend.

Cleveland Indians - 12-13

The Cleveland Indians made some noise in the pre-season, signing several free agents, but despite a four game winning streak they find themselves with a below-.500 record in fourth place of the AL Central after the first month. The .270 team average is fourth in the AL, and the star performer with the bat has been switch-hitting catcher Carlos Santana, who's .395 average leads the Majors. He's also jacked five home runs and has 13 walks to the 16 strikeouts, so a monster season may be in order for the 26 year old. Ryan Raburn is hitting .364 at the moment, thanks largely to a ridiculous past few days in which he has gone 12-for-14 with four home runs and Michael Bourn was hitting well until he suffered a hand injury sliding into first base (who knew that was a bad idea?).

Unfortunately, for all the promise shown on offense, this team continues to be dire on the mound. Justin Masterson continues to frustrate, as every unhittable outing is followed by a weak one, and his 3.12 ERA may well go up further in the coming weeks. Ubaldo Jimenez is continuing to prove that his days as an effective pitcher are over, with a 7.13 ERA, although Brett Myers has been even worse as his ERA heads north of 8. Despite having nothing to work with, the bullpen has actually been pretty effective. Chris Perez has just a 1.13 ERA, but he has had a laughable four save opportunities. Vinnie Pestano, Joe Smith and Bryan Shaw help form a pretty handy bullpen, and Trevor Bauer has shown promise that is outmatched only by his wildness in his two spot starts in the Majors (13 walks in 10 innings).

Chicago White Sox - 11-15

The bottom-dwellers of the AL Central is the weak hitting White Sox, whose .231 team batting average is second worst in the AL. The sole bright spot on offense has been third baseman Conor Gillaspie, although his 6:18 walk:strikeout rate suggests that regression from his .323 average is due. Adam Dunn has continued to prove that walks, strikeouts and home runs are all you need, as his .141 average is barely even a surprise any more despite the fact he has mashed six home runs. Alex Rios and Alejandro De Aza have shown promise, but both need to provide more to get this offense rolling. Paul Konerko has also been mightily disappointing, hitting just .237.

In direct contrast to the Indians, the White Sox success has largely been due to their rotation. I tend not to watch White Sox games in order to avoid the insufferable Hawk Harrelson, but was able to watch Chris Sale recently, and despite his awkward arm action and subsequent injury risks, he continues to look like a bona fide ace. He got roughed up by the Indians in a recent start, but the 3.83 ERA is by no means disastrous when he is rolling along at a strikeout per inning, although he has thrown 40 innings already in the young season. Jake Peavy leads the starters with a 3.38 ERA and Jose Quintana has been impressive on his way to a 2-0 record. Gavin Floyd's 5.18 ERA is disappointing, but if he can cut down on the walks that number should fall. After being shaky in the closer's role last season, Addison Reed has been fairly untouchable this season so far, with a 1.50 ERA whilst saving 9 saves in as many opportunities. Jesse Crain and Matt Thornton have also been effective out of the 'pen, though Nate Jones has been struggling so far.