Since the baseball season has reached the All-Star break, I figured it's the proper time to review the picks that I made at the beginning of the 2011 MLB season. You can go back and review the preview here if you want. As it turns out, my picks weren't exactly spot on. For example, who would have thought that the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, and Arizona Diamondbacks would be in the thick of the playoff race at the All-Star break? Clearly not me. So without further adieu, here's a look at my picks and how they've held up so far.
Predictions (* = Wild Card) Current Record:
American League
AL East
1. Boston Red Sox 1. Boston Red Sox (55-35)
2. New York Yankees* 2. New York Yankees (53-35)*
3. Toronto Blue Jays 3. Tampa Bay Rays (49-41)
4. Tampa Bay Rays 4. Toronto Blue Jays (45-47)
5. Baltimore Orioles 5. Baltimore Orioles (36-52)
Hey, remember when the Red Sox got off to an 0-6 start and everybody was panicking about the Sox? Well, since then they're 55-29 and now have the best record in the American League. While OF Carl Crawford has yet to live up to expectations for the Sox, the team's other big acquisition, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, has more than held up his end of the bargain, leading the A.L. in hits, RBIs, and batting average. The Yankees have had some injury trouble, but solid performances from 2B Robinson Cano, SP C.C. Sabathia, 1B Mark Teixeira, and CF Curtis Granderson have put the Bronx Bombers neck in neck with the Red Sox. The Rays are probably one of the four best teams in the AL, but only two teams can make it in the playoffs out of the A.L. East, and it looks like the Rays will be the team on the outside looking in. 3B/OF Jose Bautista has been the best hitter in baseball for the Blue Jays, leading the league in home runs and OPS. But the Jays pitching staff is too inconsistent for them to contend this year. The Orioles got off to a hot start, but the team's young pitching staff still has some growing up to do (last in the AL in ERA) before the Orioles can return to respectability.
AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox 1. Detroit Tigers (49-43)
2. Detroit Tigers 2. Cleveland Indians (47-42)
3. Minnesota Twins 3. Chicago White Sox (44-48)
4. Kansas City Royals 4. Minnesota Twins (41-48)
5. Cleveland Indians 5. Kansas City Royals (37-54)
The Tigers have gotten little to no production from four different lineup spots (2B, 3B, LF, CF) and their pitching outside of ace Justin Verlander has been inconsistent, but they still enter the All-Star break leading the division and with players like Verlander, 1B Miguel Cabrera, and C/DH Victor Martinez leading the charge, Detroit should stay in the race the rest of the way. The Indians surprised the entire baseball world with their fast start, but a combination of injuries and starting pitching woes (especially from Fausto Carmona) have brought the Tribe back to earth. Still, they're only half a game back in the American League's most wide open division. The White Sox have not played up to expectations, but if some of those disappointing players (DH Adam Dunn, SP John Danks, 2B Gordan Beckham, CF Alex Rios) can round into form, then the White Sox have to be considered legit contenders. The Twins have had injuries to both C Joe Mauer and 1B Justin Morneau, their closer Joe Nathan never returned back to form, and ace SP Francisco Liriano has been a disappointment. Yet they remain only 6.5 games out of first, so a hot second half could push the Twins back into the playoffs. The Royals still seem to be a year away, although they have gotten good play out of rookies like 1B Eric Hosmer and set-up man Aaron Crow. Honestly, I think Cleveland drops out of it, and the Tigers and White Sox will duke it out down the stretch, with Chicago winning by a nose.
AL West
1. Texas Rangers 1. Texas Rangers (51-41)
2. Oakland Athletics 2. L.A. Angels of Anaheim (50-42)
3. L.A. Angels of Anaheim 3. Seattle Mariners (43-48)
4. Seattle Mariners 4. Oakland Athletics (39-53)
The Rangers have had a few injury problems, but they're right on pace with last year's mark at the All-Star Break (50-38). If they can get better starting pitching, the Rangers should be able to hold off the Angels, who have great pitching but are offensively challenged. The Mariners have great pitching led by starters Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda, but their offense is just offensive to watch (.224/.290/.331). The Athletics are a lot like the Mariners, but just not as lucky. This is going to be a two-team race at the end, and as long as the Rangers' big bats can stay healthy, they should hold off the Angels.
National League
NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies 1. Philadelphia Phillies (57-34)
2. Atlanta Braves* 2. Atlanta Braves (54-38)*
3. Florida Marlins 3. New York Mets (46-45)
4. Washington Nationals 4. Washington Nationals (46-46)
5. New York Mets 5. Florida Marlins (43-48)
The Phillies have relied on their excellent starting pitching led by Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee to carry an offense that has been average at best to the majors best record. Sure, the Phillies could use another bat and an arm in the bullpen, but as long as Halladay, Lee, and Cole Hamels take their scheduled turns and Roy Oswalt can get back in the swing of things, then the Phillies are the team to beat in the NL. The Braves have used a similar strategy to lay claim to the second best record in the NL, and the Wild-Card spot should be theirs to lose, especially if 2B Dan Uggla and RF Jason Heyward can come back from rough first halves. The Mets have suffered injuries to 3B David Wright, 1B Ike Davis and LF Jason Bay, but their biggest concern has to be the injury SS Jose Reyes suffered last week, as the free-agent to be has carried the Mets thus far. The Nationals have gone through injuries and a managerial change, yet they still find themselves at .500 despite a poor first half from free agent acquisition OF Jayson Werth (.215/.319/.362). The Marlins played well the first two months, then struggled mightily in June, which resulted in 80-year old Jack McKeon becoming the new manager. It's not likely that McKeon will drag his team over .500 with ace SP Josh Johnson out indefinitely and superstar SS Hanley Ramirez having his worst season to date. At the end of the day, expect the Phillies and Braves to grab playoff spots, and the Mets and Nats to fight it out for third.
NL Central
1. Cincinnati Reds 1. St. Louis Cardinals (49-43)
2. St. Louis Cardinals 1. Milwaukee Brewers (49-43)
3. Milwaukee Brewers 3. Pittsburgh Pirates (47-43)
4. Chicago Cubs 4. Cincinnati Reds (45-47)
5. Houston Astros 5. Chicago Cubs (37-55)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates 6. Houston Astros (30-62)
Baseball's most wide-open race resides here in the NL Central, where four teams are within 4 1/2 games of each other. The Cardinals waived their opening day closer, Ryan Franklin, during the season, and have been without superstars 1B Albert Pujols and LF Matt Holliday for stretches of the season. But now both men are back, Fernando Salas has filled the closer role, and thanks to an offense led by OF Lance Berkman (.290/.402/606), the Cardinals are tied for first place. The Brew Crew has been carried by 1B Prince Fielder and OF Ryan Braun on offense to go with a strong starting rotation. If SP Zack Grienke improves on his 5.45 ERA in the second half, then watch out for the Brewers. The Pirates, a team without a winning season in 19 years, find themselves only a half a game out of first place. A lot of the credit for that goes to CF Andrew McCutheon and a pitching staff that ranks fifth in the NL in ERA. The Reds lead the league in runs scored, but their pitching staff (14th in ERA) has been a disappointment, particularly SP Edinson Volquez and RP Arlodis Chapman. The Cubs are still the Cubs, an overpaid mess of a team going nowhere fast, although SS Starlin Castro has been one of the best hitting shortstops in the game. The Astros are in rebuilding mode at this point, which is something the Cubs should consider. At the end of the day, I'll stick with the Reds pulling out another division title, if only because I'm not sold on any of these teams, so I might as well stick with my original pick.
NL West
1. Colorado Rockies 1. San Francisco Giants (52-40)
2. San Francisco Giants 2. Arizona Diamondbacks (49-43)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers 3. Colorado Rockies (43-48)
4. San Diego Padres 4. Los Angeles Dodgers (41-51)
5. Arizona Diamondbacks 5. San Diego Padres (40-52)
Giants baseball may be torture (15th in the NL in runs scored), but once again manager Bruce Bochy and a strong pitching staff have made it work, as the Giants are in first place at the All-Star break despite a season ending injury to C Buster Posey and getting next to nothing out of SS Miguel Tejada. The Diamondbacks have played with a new spark under manager Kirk Gibson, and to the surprise of many, find themselves right in the thick of the hunt, thanks in large part to OFs Chris Young and Justin Upton. The Rockies have a reputation of being a second half team, which is a good thing because they'll need a strong second half to make the postseason this year. Better pitching from ace Ubaldo Jimenez would help. The Dodgers are just a mess right now, and not even the talent of players such as CF Matt Kemp, RF Andre Ethier, and SP Clayton Kershaw will push the Dodgers into the pennant race. The Padres just can't score enough runs, and with the trade deadline approaching, the team is looking to trade star closer Heath Bell for a package of prospects. Where Bell ends up could make the difference for a contender, which is the only impact the Padres will have on the pennant race this season. I would like to stick with the Rockies, but I think they're too far behind the Giants to catch up, so the Giants are my choice.
World Series Predictions: Rangers over Rockies
One day, I'm going to learn not to expect huge things from the Rockies, as they seem to have the pieces for a great team but just can't put it together for whatever reason. So instead, I'm saying the Phillies will match up with the Rangers in the 2011 World Series, with the Rangers winning a close series in at least six games. Sure, it might be a gut feeling, but I think the Rangers have the talent to pull it off and win the first World Series in their franchise's history.
Awards Predictions:
AL MVP:
1. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox (.354 BA/.414 OBP/.591 SLG, 128 hits, 17 HR, 77 RBI)
2. Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers (.301/.357/.542, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 54 games)
3. Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays (.239/.321/.459, 11 HR, 42 RBI)
Dark Horse: Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins (.225/.281/.338, 54 games, injured)
Midseaon Picks:
1. Gonzalez
2. Jose Bautista, 3B/OF, Blue Jays (.334/.468/.702, 31 HR, 65 RBI)
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers (.311/.430/.549, 18 HR, 59 RBI)
4. Curtis Granderson, OF, New York Yankees (.269/.361/.575, 25 HR, 63 RBI, 79 runs, 15 SB)
Gonzalez has been everything the Red Sox could have ever hoped for and more when they traded for him in the offseason, carrying the Sox to the league's best record and leading the league in many major categories. Bautista's team may not be as successful as the Red Sox, but the Blue Jay has reinvented himself over the past two years and has become the most dangerous hitter in the game with the possible exception of Albert Pujols. Once again, Cabrera is putting together another solid season for the AL Central leading Tigers, but he's a little short of Bautista and Gonzalez thus far. On a team full of stars, Granderson has arguably been the best of the bunch for the Yankees, providing a devastating mixture of power and speed for opponents and leading the A.L in runs scored and triples to go along with his stellar numbers. As for my other preseason picks, well, they've all been hurt, and only Hamilton has really had a solid season thus far.
NL MVP:
1. Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals (.280/.357/.500, 18 HR, 50 RBI)
2. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies (.268/.337/.468, 17 HR, 57 RBI)
3. Joey Votto, 1B, Reds (.324/.438/.507, 13 HR, 55 RBI)
Dark Horse: Jason Heyward, OF, Braves (.226/.315/.404, 9 HR, 69 games)
Midseason Picks:
1. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates (.291/.390/.505, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 15 SB)
2. Brian McCann, C, Braves (.310/.381/.514, 15 HR, 50 RBI)
3. Lance Berkman, OF, Cardinals (.290/.404/.602, 24 HR, 63 RBI)
4. Jose Reyes, SS, Mets, (.354/.398/.529, 124 hits, 15 3B, 30 SB)
Perhaps I may be overstating McCuthen's contributions this year, but on a team that's not exactly full of superstars, McCuthen's been the one consistent in the lineup and the biggest reason why the Pirates are within half a game of first place. McCann's been a very important part of the Braves success this season, as he's been the one shining light in an offense that has been inconsistent throughout the season. Berkman leads the NL in OPS and home runs, not bad for a guy that was considered finished after his disastrous stint with the Yankees last year. Reyes leads the NL in batting average and triples and is second in stolen bases, but he is currently on the DL with a leg injury, so that might hurt his MVP chances going forward. While Pujols isn't having a season up to his usual standards, he's still having a mighty fine season and could find himself in the discussion with a strong second half. Votto's no slouch either, as he leads the NL in on base percentage and is in the top 10 in many major offensive categories. Tulowitzki needs a big second half to get back in the discussion, while Jason Heyward has had the sophmore jinx thus far in 2011 and has no chance of an MVP Award this year.
AL Cy Young Award:
1. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners (8-7 win-loss record, 3.19 ERA, 140 strikeouts)
2. Jon Lester, SP, Red Sox (10-4, 3.31, 110 SO)
3. C.C. Sabathia, SP, Yankees (13-4, 2.72 ERA, 126 SO)
Dark Horse: John Danks, SP, White Sox (3-8, 4.21 ERA, 65 SO)
Midseason Picks:
1. Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers (12-4, 2.15 ERA, 147 SO)
2. Jared Weaver, SP, Angels (11-4, 1.86 ERA, 120 SO)
3. Josh Beckett, SP, Red Sox (8-3, 2.27 ERA, 94 SO)
4. Sabathia
In a season where there are many great pitchers, it was hard to limit worthy choices to four. To me, Verlander's been the best of the best so far, showcasing overpowering stuff and giving the Tigers a chance to win every time out. Weaver's had his best season yet, leading the AL in ERA, Beckett has had perhaps his best season yet as well, giving the Red Sox the ace to go along with Jon Lester, who hasn't been too bad himself. Sabathia's going to get his wins playing for the Yankees, but make no mistake about it, he's still one of the best pitchers in the game. Hernandez hasn't been quite as dominant as he was last season, but he hasn't been bad either. As for John Danks, well sometimes you go off on a limb and it crumbles beneath you.
NL Cy Young Award:
1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies (11-3, 2.45 ERA, 138 SO, 6 Complete Games)
2. Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants (7-7, 3.06 ERA, 132 SO)
3. Cliff Lee, SP, Phillies (9-6, 2.82 ERA, 137 SO)
Dark Horse: Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers (9-4, 3.03 ERA, 147 SO)
Midseason Picks:
1. Halladay
2. Jair Jurrjens, SP, Braves (12-3, 1.87 ERA, 65 SO)
3. Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies (11-4, 2.32 ERA, 121 SO)
4. Tommy Hanson, SP, Braves (10-4, 2.44 ERA, 109 SO)
Halladay, Lee, and Hamels are three of the top ten pitchers in baseball, and each man is going to be in the running for the Cy Young this year. Thus far, Halladay has just the slightest of edges. A strong case could be made for Jaur Jurrjens, as he leads the NL in ERA and batting average against. Hanson is second in the NL in WHIP (1.016), fourth in ERA, and in the top ten in most important pitching categories. Apparently, that's not enough to get into the All-Star game, but it should be. Kershaw's been pretty good himself, as has Lincecum, but they're a slight notch below the top contenders for this award.
AL Rookie of the Year Award:
1. Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Rays (8-7, 3.21 ERA, 68 SO)
2. Michael Pineda, SP, Mariners (8-6, 3.03 ERA, 113 SO)
3. Kyle Drabek, SP, Blue Jays (4-5, 5.70 ERA, demoted to minors)
Dark Horse: Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals (25 games .228/.294/.283)
Midseason Picks:
1. Pineda
2. Hellickson
3. Jordan Walden, CP, Angels (20 Saves, 2.84 ERA, 41 SO in 38 IP)
4. Mark Trumbo, 1B, Angels (.260/.305/.483, 17 HR, 41 RBI)
Pineda's been a revelation for the Mariners rotation this year, having a season that's right up there with Mariners ace Felix Hernandez. Hellickson's effectively replaced Matt Garza in the Rays rotation and given Tampa Bay another young arm to go with David Price and James Shields. The Angels entered the year with some questions in the bullpen, and Walden has been the answer saving 20 games, though he has also blown five. Trumbo's been a bit inconsistent, but he has provided the Angels with some much needed power, leading the team in home runs and total bases. Drabek hasn't exactly replaced Roy Halladay, the man he was traded for, while Moustakas spent the first part of the season in the minors and has yet to catch up to big league pitching.
NL Rookie of the Year Award:
1. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves (.274/.347/.459, 13 HR, 43 RBI)
2. Arlodis Chapman, SP, Reds (4.57 ERA, 22 walks in 21.2 IP)
3. Brandon Belt, 1B, Giants (19 games, .211/.328/.281)
Dark Horse: Craig Kimbrel, RP, Braves (2.35 ERA, 28 Saves, 70 SO in 46 IP)
1. Kimbrel
2. Danny Espinosa, 2B, Nationals (.242/.332/.460, 16 HR, 52 RBI)
3. Freeman
4. Dillon Gee, SP, Mets (8-3, 3.76 ERA, 60 SO)
Kimbrel has had some rough patches, but when he's on, he's unhittable, striking out 13.7 batters per nine innings. What Espinosa lacks in batting average, he makes up for in power, leading the Nationals in home runs and RBIs. Freeman has been one of the few solid bats in the Atlanta lineup while playing great defense at first. Gee got off to a 7-0 start, but has cooled off a little since then. Still, an 8-3 record isn't too shabby. Both Chapman and Bolt struggled early on and were sent down to the minors, so it's unlikely they'll get any ROY votes.
Well, thanks for reading the 2011 Canon Review Baseball Preview Midseason Review. Yes, it is a long title. If you have any thoughts about this topic or other posts, then feel free to share those thoughts either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
Showing posts with label New York Yankees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Yankees. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
A look back at the 1960 World Series
Here's a review that came from an idea by Canon Review reader Dickson S., and is a little different from normal Canon Review fare, as we take a look back at one of the wildest World Series of all time, the 1960 Fall Classic between the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even though the Yankees outscored the Pirates by a score of 55-27 and hit .338 as a team, they still lost the World Series in seven games thanks to one of the most dramatic home runs in baseball history. Yes, my friends, it was quite a series.
At the time, the New York Yankees were in the midst of an incredible 16 year run (1949-1964) where they won fourteen pennants in those sixteen years. After failing to make the World Series in 1959, manager Casey Stengel and his team fought their way back to familiar territory, winning the pennant by eight games over the Baltimore Orioles with a 97-57 record. Although the Yankees ended up running away with the pennant, it wasn't that simple, as they were tied with the Orioles on the date of September 14, and faced a four game series in New York against the Orioles. The Yankees swept the Orioles in that series, and proceeded to win every game from that point, finishing the 1960 season on a fifteen game winning streak. The Yankees that year led the AL in runs scored, home runs, and ERA. Offensively, they were led by the legendary CF Mickey Mantle (.275/.399/.588, a league leading 40 home runs and 119 runs scored, along with a 164 OPS+) and the 1960 A.L. MVP, RF Roger Maris (.283/.371/.581, 39 home runs, a league leading 112 RBI). Pitching wise, the Yanks were solid, but not spectacular. Pitching ace Whitey Ford (12-9 win loss record, 3.08 ERA) had missed some time due to a wrist injury, while starters Art Ditmar (15-9, 3.06 ERA), and Ralph Terry (10-8, 3.40) had done well in the regular season, but had never started a World Series game before. With Ford still struggling with his wrist injuries, Stengel made a controversial decision, and had Ditmar open up the Series for the Yanks.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates had not won a pennant in 33 years until the 1960 season. But that year, it all came together for Danny Murtaugh's Pirates, as they finished with a 95-59 record and won the pennant by seven games. Unlike the Yankees, the Pirates were firmly in control of the NL lead for most of the second half, never leading by less than three games over the season's final two months. Offensively, the Pirates were led by 1960 N.L. MVP SS Dick Groat (.325/.371/.394), 3B Don Hoak (.282/.366/.445, a team leading 97 runs and 74 walks) and future Hall of Fame RF Roberto Clemente (.314/.357/.458, team leading 94 RBIs). Interestingly enough, the Pirates nearly traded Groat to the Kansas City Athletics in the 1959 offseason, but Murtaugh cancelled the trade at the last minute. The player Groat was to be traded for? None other than the 1960 AL MVP Roger Maris, who instead was traded to the Yankees. Pitching-wise, the Pirates had a pair of aces in 1960 Cy Young winner Vern Law (20-9, 3.08 ERA, 271 2/3 innings pitched) and Bob Friend (18-12, 3.00 ERA, 275 2.3 IP), as well as perhaps the best reliever in the game in Roy Face (10-8, 2.90, 24 saves).
Coming into the Series, the Yankees were considered the slight favorites despite concerns over their pitching staff, mainly because they were the great New York Yankees. Also, they had a huge advantage in the power department and had postseason experience to spare, unlike the Pirates. Sports Illustrated, however, picked the Pirates to win in either five or six games. Comparing the teams side to side, the Yankees had the advantage in the outfield (Hector Lopez, Mantle, Maris compared to Bob Skinner, Bill Virdon, Clemente), but the Pirates had a better infield (Dick Stuart, Bill Mazeroski, Groat, Hoak compared to Bill Skoworn, Bobby Richardson, Tony Kubek, and Clete Boyer, although Skoworn was superior to Stuart). As far as catcher, both teams used a platoon, and while the Yankees duo of Elston Howard and Yogi Berra were more famous, the Pirates duo of Smoky Burgess and Hal Smith weren't too shabby. In fact, the Pirates' duo's numbers (.294, 18 HR, 84 RBI) weren't too far off the Yankees' duo (.261, 21, 101). Pitching wise, while the Yankees had Ford and a solid bullpen, they also had question marks up and down the rotation, while the Pirates foursome of Law, Friend, Vinegar Bend Mizell, and Harvey Haddix were a solid quartet.
The series opened in Pittsburgh's Forbes Field, with Law going for the Pirates against Ditmar. Roger Maris got the scoring going early with a first inning solo shot, but the Pirates answered back. After Bill Virdon drew a leadoff walk, he attempted to steal second, which took the Yankees by surprise and Berra's throw ended up in center field, while Virdon took third. Groat followed up with a double, and then Bob Skinner drove him in with a single. After an out, Clemente came up and drove Skinner home from second with a single, making it 3-1. Stengel had seen enough, and pulled his ace Ditmar after only five batters. The Pirates would add three more runs, two of which came off a Bill Mazeroski homer in the fifth, and Law and Roy Face held off the Yankees as the Pirates took the first game six to four. Game 2 featured a battle of the Bobs, as the Pirates' Friend went up against the Yankees' Turley. The Yankees started the scoring in the third after an RBI single from Tony Kubek drove in Bobby Richardson, and Gil McDougald followed with a double. After another run in the fourth, the Pirates came back in the bottom half, as Gino Camoli and Smoky Burgess started the inning with singles. Don Hoak followed with a double that drove in Camoli and sent Burgess to third. After a lineout by Mazeroski, Murtaugh took out his top pitcher Friend for a pinch hitter in Gene Baker. The gambit didn't pay off, as Baker popped up, then Virdon grounded out harmlessly to end the fourth. The Pirates turned to Freddie Green in the fifth, and he, or any other reliever the Pirates put out there, couldn't contain the powerful Yankees offense. From the fifth on, the Yankees scored 13 runs, and Mickey Mantle hit two towering home runs for five RBIs. The Yankees ended up winning 16-3 and the Series was even heading to Yankee Stadium.
Game 3 of the Series belonged to second baseman Bobby Richardson. Richardson, not known for his hitting ability (as his .252/.303/.298 line in 1960 would attest to), surprised many when, in the first inning with the bases loaded and the Yanks up 2-0, he launched a ball off of Pirates reliever Clem Labine over the left field fence for a grand slam, giving the Yanks a 6-0 lead. After a Mantle home run made it 8-0, Richardson came up again with the bases loaded in the fourth, and this time drilled a two-run single off of Fred Green to make it 10-0. On the mound, Whitey Ford dazzled for the Yankees, pitching a four-hit shutout and giving the Yanks' a 2-1 edge. In game 4, the Pirates turned to the Law, Vern Law that is, and not only did he allow only 2 runs in 6 1/3 innings, he also drove in the Pirates first run with a double, and scored the eventual game winning run off of a Virdon single. Law got himself into a few jams, but found a way out of them thanks to some stellar defense. After Richardson drove in Skoworn in the seventh, Murtaugh went to Roy Face, and Bob Cerv greeted Face with a long fly ball to center field. But Bill Virdon made a great leaping catch to protect the lead, and the ace reliever set down the next seven batters, giving the Pirates a 3-2 victory. Game 5 saw Ditmar go once again for the Yankees, this time against Harvey Haddix. The good news is that this time, Ditmar escaped the first innings. The bad news is that Ditmar didn't get past inning number two. After allowing a single and a double, Hoak grounded to short and scored the first run. To make matters worse, third baseman Gil McDougald dropped the ball and Smoky Burgess wound up safe at third, giving the Pirates runners at the corners. Mazeroski took advantage by doubling into left to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead and chase Ditmar out. The Pirates added another run in the fourth, while Haddix was quite successful, giving up two runs over 6 and 1/3 innings before giving way to Roy Face with two men on and one out in the seventh. Face got the next two batters, McDougald and Maris, and finished the game out for Pittsburgh, collected his third save of the series and giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead heading back into Pittsburgh.
With the Yankees' backs against the wall, Stengel gave the ball to Whitey Ford, while the Pirates hoped that Friend would come back from a so-so start in game 2. Well, Friend couldn't make it out of third inning. With the score 1-0 in favor of the Yankees, Friend hit Kubek, then allowed a Maris double and a Mantle single to make the score 3-0. Then Yogi Berra singled, and Friend was replaced by Tom Chaney, who allowed a sacrifice fly to Skoworn and a two run triple to Richardson that gave the Yankees a 6-0 advantage after three. Meanwhile, Ford dominated once again, and the Yankees cruised to a 12-0 victory to set up game 7. The Pirates once again turned to their ace, Law, while the Yankees countered with game 2 winner Bob Turley. The Pirates started the festivities early, as first baseman Rocky Nelson hit a two run shot in the first inning. After Burgess led off the second with a single, Stengel pulled Turley for the rookie, Bill Stafford. After loading the bases, Stafford coaxed Law into hitting a double play, but Virdon followed up with a two run single to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead with their ace pitcher on the mound. In the fifth, Bill Skoworn broke through with a solo shot, and after Law allowed a single to Richardson and a walk to Kubek in the sixth, Danny Murtaugh took no chances and put his ace reliever Face in. However, Face was tired, as he had pitched three long outings in a week and had very little left. After a Mantle single cut the lead to 4-2, Yogi Berra came up with another big hit in his legendary career, slamming the ball over the fence and giving the Yankees a five to four lead. Face stayed in until the eighth, where he allowed two more runs to pass and gave the Yankees a 7-4 lead with two innings to go.
In the bottom of the eighth, Bobby Shantz began his fifth inning of relief by allowing a single to Gino Camoli. The next batter, Virdon, hit what appeared to be the perfect double-play groundball. However, the ball hit a pebble on the rough infield surface of Forbes Field, causing the ball to bounce right into Tony Kubek's throat. Both runners were safe and Kubek had to leave the game because of his injuries. By this point, Shantz was gassed, as he hadn't had an outing longer than four innings during the regular season. Groat would chase Shantz after a single cut the lead to 7-5, and Stengel went with Jim Coates, a starter during the regular season, to lock the game down. After a sacrifice bunt and a flyout, Roberto Clemente came through with a single to make it a one run game, then Hal Smith had perhaps the biggest hit of his career, delivering a three-run blast to give the Pirates a 9-7 lead. Ralph Terry came in to get the last out in the eighth. With three outs to go, Murtaugh made a curious choice and turned to Friend, who had started just the day before. The move didn't work, as Richardson and Dale Long hit two quick singles off of Friend, and Murtaugh turned to Haddix with the heart of the Yankees' order coming up. After retiring Maris, Mantle hit a single to drive in Richardson, and Berra drove in the tying run with a groundout. Haddix then got Skoworn to ground out, and the game entered the bottom of the ninth tied at nine. Bill Mazeroski led off, and on a 1-0 pitch, the Pirates' second sacker hit the biggest home run in Pirates history, blasting the ball over the left field fence and clinching the World Series for the Pirates. Despite the Pirates' victory, the World Series MVP was awarded to the Yankees' Bobby Richardson, who hit .367 and set a World Series record with 12 RBIs in one series.
Over the years, this World Series has gained a reputation as being one of the biggest upsets in baseball history, partly due to the Yankee mystique and partly due to the lopsided total score. However, I don't know if it's as big an upset as it looks at first glance. Yes, the Yankees blew out the Pirates in three games, but the Pirates also won two games in New York, and judging by their regular season numbers, the two teams seemed quite even. I'm willing to venture that if the series was played ten times, the Pirates would win at least five of them, depending on where Whitey Ford pitched in these theoretical series. Which brings me to my next point. Stengel took a lot of heat for holding back Ford until game three of the series, instead of starting Ford in Game 1 and maybe giving him a chance to start three games. It's a curious move to say the least. According to what I've read about it over the years, Stengel believed that Ford was not up to the task of pitching three games in a series, and that he wanted to save Ford for the home opener because he believed Whitey was a better pitcher at Yankee Stadium. While the first point is up for debate (although Ford seemed just fine the next year working primarily on three days rest, going 25-4), the second point makes no sense at all. Even if you save Ford for game three, he still ended up pitching at Forbes Field for game 6, so what's the difference between that or starting him in game 1 and going back to him in game 4 or 5? Furthermore, it doesn't seem like Stengel had a lot of faith in Ditmar since he pulled him very early in both of his starts. Who's to say what would have happened if Stengel went with Ford instead of Ditmar, but you have to believe that the Yankees would have had a much better chance with Ford possibly starting three games instead of two. The decision, among other factors, led the Yankees' brass to fire Stengel following the World Series.
Well, thanks for reading this look back at one of the greatest World Series of all-time. Remember, if you have any thoughts about this post or ideas for future posts, than share those thoughts and ideas either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
At the time, the New York Yankees were in the midst of an incredible 16 year run (1949-1964) where they won fourteen pennants in those sixteen years. After failing to make the World Series in 1959, manager Casey Stengel and his team fought their way back to familiar territory, winning the pennant by eight games over the Baltimore Orioles with a 97-57 record. Although the Yankees ended up running away with the pennant, it wasn't that simple, as they were tied with the Orioles on the date of September 14, and faced a four game series in New York against the Orioles. The Yankees swept the Orioles in that series, and proceeded to win every game from that point, finishing the 1960 season on a fifteen game winning streak. The Yankees that year led the AL in runs scored, home runs, and ERA. Offensively, they were led by the legendary CF Mickey Mantle (.275/.399/.588, a league leading 40 home runs and 119 runs scored, along with a 164 OPS+) and the 1960 A.L. MVP, RF Roger Maris (.283/.371/.581, 39 home runs, a league leading 112 RBI). Pitching wise, the Yanks were solid, but not spectacular. Pitching ace Whitey Ford (12-9 win loss record, 3.08 ERA) had missed some time due to a wrist injury, while starters Art Ditmar (15-9, 3.06 ERA), and Ralph Terry (10-8, 3.40) had done well in the regular season, but had never started a World Series game before. With Ford still struggling with his wrist injuries, Stengel made a controversial decision, and had Ditmar open up the Series for the Yanks.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates had not won a pennant in 33 years until the 1960 season. But that year, it all came together for Danny Murtaugh's Pirates, as they finished with a 95-59 record and won the pennant by seven games. Unlike the Yankees, the Pirates were firmly in control of the NL lead for most of the second half, never leading by less than three games over the season's final two months. Offensively, the Pirates were led by 1960 N.L. MVP SS Dick Groat (.325/.371/.394), 3B Don Hoak (.282/.366/.445, a team leading 97 runs and 74 walks) and future Hall of Fame RF Roberto Clemente (.314/.357/.458, team leading 94 RBIs). Interestingly enough, the Pirates nearly traded Groat to the Kansas City Athletics in the 1959 offseason, but Murtaugh cancelled the trade at the last minute. The player Groat was to be traded for? None other than the 1960 AL MVP Roger Maris, who instead was traded to the Yankees. Pitching-wise, the Pirates had a pair of aces in 1960 Cy Young winner Vern Law (20-9, 3.08 ERA, 271 2/3 innings pitched) and Bob Friend (18-12, 3.00 ERA, 275 2.3 IP), as well as perhaps the best reliever in the game in Roy Face (10-8, 2.90, 24 saves).
Coming into the Series, the Yankees were considered the slight favorites despite concerns over their pitching staff, mainly because they were the great New York Yankees. Also, they had a huge advantage in the power department and had postseason experience to spare, unlike the Pirates. Sports Illustrated, however, picked the Pirates to win in either five or six games. Comparing the teams side to side, the Yankees had the advantage in the outfield (Hector Lopez, Mantle, Maris compared to Bob Skinner, Bill Virdon, Clemente), but the Pirates had a better infield (Dick Stuart, Bill Mazeroski, Groat, Hoak compared to Bill Skoworn, Bobby Richardson, Tony Kubek, and Clete Boyer, although Skoworn was superior to Stuart). As far as catcher, both teams used a platoon, and while the Yankees duo of Elston Howard and Yogi Berra were more famous, the Pirates duo of Smoky Burgess and Hal Smith weren't too shabby. In fact, the Pirates' duo's numbers (.294, 18 HR, 84 RBI) weren't too far off the Yankees' duo (.261, 21, 101). Pitching wise, while the Yankees had Ford and a solid bullpen, they also had question marks up and down the rotation, while the Pirates foursome of Law, Friend, Vinegar Bend Mizell, and Harvey Haddix were a solid quartet.
The series opened in Pittsburgh's Forbes Field, with Law going for the Pirates against Ditmar. Roger Maris got the scoring going early with a first inning solo shot, but the Pirates answered back. After Bill Virdon drew a leadoff walk, he attempted to steal second, which took the Yankees by surprise and Berra's throw ended up in center field, while Virdon took third. Groat followed up with a double, and then Bob Skinner drove him in with a single. After an out, Clemente came up and drove Skinner home from second with a single, making it 3-1. Stengel had seen enough, and pulled his ace Ditmar after only five batters. The Pirates would add three more runs, two of which came off a Bill Mazeroski homer in the fifth, and Law and Roy Face held off the Yankees as the Pirates took the first game six to four. Game 2 featured a battle of the Bobs, as the Pirates' Friend went up against the Yankees' Turley. The Yankees started the scoring in the third after an RBI single from Tony Kubek drove in Bobby Richardson, and Gil McDougald followed with a double. After another run in the fourth, the Pirates came back in the bottom half, as Gino Camoli and Smoky Burgess started the inning with singles. Don Hoak followed with a double that drove in Camoli and sent Burgess to third. After a lineout by Mazeroski, Murtaugh took out his top pitcher Friend for a pinch hitter in Gene Baker. The gambit didn't pay off, as Baker popped up, then Virdon grounded out harmlessly to end the fourth. The Pirates turned to Freddie Green in the fifth, and he, or any other reliever the Pirates put out there, couldn't contain the powerful Yankees offense. From the fifth on, the Yankees scored 13 runs, and Mickey Mantle hit two towering home runs for five RBIs. The Yankees ended up winning 16-3 and the Series was even heading to Yankee Stadium.
Game 3 of the Series belonged to second baseman Bobby Richardson. Richardson, not known for his hitting ability (as his .252/.303/.298 line in 1960 would attest to), surprised many when, in the first inning with the bases loaded and the Yanks up 2-0, he launched a ball off of Pirates reliever Clem Labine over the left field fence for a grand slam, giving the Yanks a 6-0 lead. After a Mantle home run made it 8-0, Richardson came up again with the bases loaded in the fourth, and this time drilled a two-run single off of Fred Green to make it 10-0. On the mound, Whitey Ford dazzled for the Yankees, pitching a four-hit shutout and giving the Yanks' a 2-1 edge. In game 4, the Pirates turned to the Law, Vern Law that is, and not only did he allow only 2 runs in 6 1/3 innings, he also drove in the Pirates first run with a double, and scored the eventual game winning run off of a Virdon single. Law got himself into a few jams, but found a way out of them thanks to some stellar defense. After Richardson drove in Skoworn in the seventh, Murtaugh went to Roy Face, and Bob Cerv greeted Face with a long fly ball to center field. But Bill Virdon made a great leaping catch to protect the lead, and the ace reliever set down the next seven batters, giving the Pirates a 3-2 victory. Game 5 saw Ditmar go once again for the Yankees, this time against Harvey Haddix. The good news is that this time, Ditmar escaped the first innings. The bad news is that Ditmar didn't get past inning number two. After allowing a single and a double, Hoak grounded to short and scored the first run. To make matters worse, third baseman Gil McDougald dropped the ball and Smoky Burgess wound up safe at third, giving the Pirates runners at the corners. Mazeroski took advantage by doubling into left to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead and chase Ditmar out. The Pirates added another run in the fourth, while Haddix was quite successful, giving up two runs over 6 and 1/3 innings before giving way to Roy Face with two men on and one out in the seventh. Face got the next two batters, McDougald and Maris, and finished the game out for Pittsburgh, collected his third save of the series and giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead heading back into Pittsburgh.
With the Yankees' backs against the wall, Stengel gave the ball to Whitey Ford, while the Pirates hoped that Friend would come back from a so-so start in game 2. Well, Friend couldn't make it out of third inning. With the score 1-0 in favor of the Yankees, Friend hit Kubek, then allowed a Maris double and a Mantle single to make the score 3-0. Then Yogi Berra singled, and Friend was replaced by Tom Chaney, who allowed a sacrifice fly to Skoworn and a two run triple to Richardson that gave the Yankees a 6-0 advantage after three. Meanwhile, Ford dominated once again, and the Yankees cruised to a 12-0 victory to set up game 7. The Pirates once again turned to their ace, Law, while the Yankees countered with game 2 winner Bob Turley. The Pirates started the festivities early, as first baseman Rocky Nelson hit a two run shot in the first inning. After Burgess led off the second with a single, Stengel pulled Turley for the rookie, Bill Stafford. After loading the bases, Stafford coaxed Law into hitting a double play, but Virdon followed up with a two run single to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead with their ace pitcher on the mound. In the fifth, Bill Skoworn broke through with a solo shot, and after Law allowed a single to Richardson and a walk to Kubek in the sixth, Danny Murtaugh took no chances and put his ace reliever Face in. However, Face was tired, as he had pitched three long outings in a week and had very little left. After a Mantle single cut the lead to 4-2, Yogi Berra came up with another big hit in his legendary career, slamming the ball over the fence and giving the Yankees a five to four lead. Face stayed in until the eighth, where he allowed two more runs to pass and gave the Yankees a 7-4 lead with two innings to go.
In the bottom of the eighth, Bobby Shantz began his fifth inning of relief by allowing a single to Gino Camoli. The next batter, Virdon, hit what appeared to be the perfect double-play groundball. However, the ball hit a pebble on the rough infield surface of Forbes Field, causing the ball to bounce right into Tony Kubek's throat. Both runners were safe and Kubek had to leave the game because of his injuries. By this point, Shantz was gassed, as he hadn't had an outing longer than four innings during the regular season. Groat would chase Shantz after a single cut the lead to 7-5, and Stengel went with Jim Coates, a starter during the regular season, to lock the game down. After a sacrifice bunt and a flyout, Roberto Clemente came through with a single to make it a one run game, then Hal Smith had perhaps the biggest hit of his career, delivering a three-run blast to give the Pirates a 9-7 lead. Ralph Terry came in to get the last out in the eighth. With three outs to go, Murtaugh made a curious choice and turned to Friend, who had started just the day before. The move didn't work, as Richardson and Dale Long hit two quick singles off of Friend, and Murtaugh turned to Haddix with the heart of the Yankees' order coming up. After retiring Maris, Mantle hit a single to drive in Richardson, and Berra drove in the tying run with a groundout. Haddix then got Skoworn to ground out, and the game entered the bottom of the ninth tied at nine. Bill Mazeroski led off, and on a 1-0 pitch, the Pirates' second sacker hit the biggest home run in Pirates history, blasting the ball over the left field fence and clinching the World Series for the Pirates. Despite the Pirates' victory, the World Series MVP was awarded to the Yankees' Bobby Richardson, who hit .367 and set a World Series record with 12 RBIs in one series.
Over the years, this World Series has gained a reputation as being one of the biggest upsets in baseball history, partly due to the Yankee mystique and partly due to the lopsided total score. However, I don't know if it's as big an upset as it looks at first glance. Yes, the Yankees blew out the Pirates in three games, but the Pirates also won two games in New York, and judging by their regular season numbers, the two teams seemed quite even. I'm willing to venture that if the series was played ten times, the Pirates would win at least five of them, depending on where Whitey Ford pitched in these theoretical series. Which brings me to my next point. Stengel took a lot of heat for holding back Ford until game three of the series, instead of starting Ford in Game 1 and maybe giving him a chance to start three games. It's a curious move to say the least. According to what I've read about it over the years, Stengel believed that Ford was not up to the task of pitching three games in a series, and that he wanted to save Ford for the home opener because he believed Whitey was a better pitcher at Yankee Stadium. While the first point is up for debate (although Ford seemed just fine the next year working primarily on three days rest, going 25-4), the second point makes no sense at all. Even if you save Ford for game three, he still ended up pitching at Forbes Field for game 6, so what's the difference between that or starting him in game 1 and going back to him in game 4 or 5? Furthermore, it doesn't seem like Stengel had a lot of faith in Ditmar since he pulled him very early in both of his starts. Who's to say what would have happened if Stengel went with Ford instead of Ditmar, but you have to believe that the Yankees would have had a much better chance with Ford possibly starting three games instead of two. The decision, among other factors, led the Yankees' brass to fire Stengel following the World Series.
Well, thanks for reading this look back at one of the greatest World Series of all-time. Remember, if you have any thoughts about this post or ideas for future posts, than share those thoughts and ideas either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Canon Review Better Late than Never 2011 MLB Preview
Hey, it's that time of the year again, where the baseball season starts anew and everybody's in first place. Or at least it was nine days ago. However, I have been too busy, lazy, sick, or whatever to contribute to this blog in the last two weeks, so here is the 2011 Canon Review Baseball Preview with nine days worth of hindsight. A lot has happened in eight days, as the heavily favored Red Sox have started out 0-6 and have millions of Sox fans panicking, while Rays OF Manny Ramirez has decided to retire rather than face another suspension due to use of performance enhancing drugs. Meanwhile, the Orioles have surprised many by getting out to a fast start, while the Phillies, Rangers, and Reds have surprised less people by also getting out to fast starts. So, with nine days behind us, let's take a look at what else is in store for the remainder of the 2011 season.
Predictions (* = Wild Card)
American League
AL East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees*
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles
Despite their 0-6 start, I'm still picking the Red Sox to win out in the AL East, simply because they have the most talent out of any team in that division by far with the additions of OF Carl Crawford and 1B Adrian Gonzalez to an already strong lineup. Yes, they have questions about their rotation and C Jarrod Saltalamacchia has failed to impress so far, but even so, the Sox are still the best team here. The Yankees may be a bit long in the tooth at some spots, but with stars like 1B Mark Teixeira, 2B Robinson Cano, 3B Alex Rodriguez, and SP C.C. Sabathia, the Bronx Bombers are still a force to be reckoned with. Any team with the amount of power the Blue Jays have to be considered a threat, and if their young rotation comes together this season, then Toronto could make some noise in the AL East. The Rays have just lost too many quality players, and it doesn't help matters that 3B Evan Longoria is hurt. Not to mention the abrupt retirement of Manny Ramirez, although it's hard to say whether or not the Rays will exactly miss a 1 for 17 hitter. The Orioles swept the Rays last weekend, and seem to be much improved, but I'm still skeptical about their chances, and I think they're still a year or two away from contending.
AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians
The White Sox have a powerful lineup boosted by the acquisition of DH Adam Dunn. With a solid rotation and a bullpen anchored by hard throwing lefties Chris Sale and Matt Thornton, I predict that Ozzie Guillen's team will emerge from a tight three team race to win the division. The Tigers signed C/1B Victor Martinez to give a boost to an offense powered by 1B Miguel Cabrera. While the Tigers have a good team, I think they have too many issues in the infield to win the division. If the Twins' 1B Justin Morneau and closer Joe Nathan come completely back from injury, then there may be postseason baseball in the Twin Cities again. However, both the White Sox and Tigers should be better teams this year, so the Twins will find it difficult to defend their division crown. The Royals have an immensely deep farm system, but most of their top prospects are still a year or two away from the majors, so while Kansas City's on the right path, expect another tough season for the Royals. The Indians have some solid young players like C Carlos Santana and RF Shin Soo-Choo, but the Tribe is in rebuilding mode and are at least two years away from contention.
AL West
1. Texas Rangers
2. Oakland Athletics
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
4. Seattle Mariners
Yes, the Rangers lost Cliff Lee, but they did add 3B Adrian Beltre to an already potent lineup and remain the most talented team in the AL West by far. The Athletics have some great young pitchers in Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, and Gio Gonzalez, but Oakland could use a little more offense, even with the additions of OFs Josh Willingham and David DeJesus and DH Hideki Matsui. The Angels missed out on Carl Crawford, so they made a panic trade for OF Vernon Wells that really doesn't help their team a whole lot. Despite the presence of SPs Dan Haren and Jared Weaver, the Angels have a look of a .500 team. The Mariners have defending Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez and perennial All-Star OF Ichiro Suzuki, and that's pretty much it.
National League
NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves*
3. Florida Marlins
4. Washington Nationals
5. New York Mets
While the Phillies do have some injury concerns, particularly with 2B Chase Utley and closer Brad Lidge, the Phils' awesome starting rotation and an offense powered by 1B Ryan Howard should be enough to give them a fifth straight NL East crown. If not, the Braves are in prime position to ascend to the throne, with a pretty decent rotation of their own. At the very least, I expect the Braves to nab the wild card spot. The Marlins still have SS Hanley Ramirez, and a top hitting prospect in RF Mike Stanton. But overall, the Marlins have too many holes to compete this year. Yes, the Nationals signed RF Jayson Werth to a megabucks contract, but their pitching still remains thin, especially with phenom Steven Strasburg out for the season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Mets are a mess right now, and I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to go on a full-scale fire sale at some point during the season in order to rebuild.
NL Central
1. Cincinnati Reds
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
This is the worst division in baseball this year, but even so the NL Central has three teams definitely capable of winning the crown this year, and the Cubs could even make a run if things go right for them. The defending champs, the Cincinnati Reds, are anchored by last year's MVP in 1B Joey Votto. While 3B Scott Rolen may take a step back this year, 2011 could also be the year that young outfielders Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce break out with All-Star caliber years, and if that happens, look out. If the Cardinals had SP Adam Wainwright available, I'd pick them to win the division. Alas, Wainwright's out for the year, so despite the presence of 1B Albert Pujols in a contract year, I still can't put them ahead of the Reds. The Brewers made a big move in trading for SP Zack Grienke, but unfortunately, Grienke's out until May with a rib injury. But a team that includes players such as OF Ryan Braun, 1B Prince Fielder, and SP Yovanni Gallardo should definitely be considered a contender. The Cubs seem to be in a weird spot right now, as if they can't decide whether to rebuild or not. But Chicago still has some talented players, and if guys like OF Alfonso Soriano and 3B Aramis Ramirez can play up to their massive contracts, then the Cubs could be the surprise team of the NL. The Astros have some good players like RF Hunter Pence and SP Brett Myers, but the majority of their roster is below average. The Pirates have had 18 losing seasons in a row, and despite a good start and some young talent like 3B Pedro Alverez, it's quite likely that 2011 will be season number 19 without a winning season.
NL West
1. Colorado Rockies
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. San Diego Padres
5. Arizona Diamondbacks
Other than the AL East, the NL West may be baseball's strongest division. The Rockies have solid pitching staff and a powerful lineup led by SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Carlos Gonzalez. Just like last year, I'm picking the Rockies to emerge as the champs come October. The defending World Champion Giants still have an excellent pitching staff powered by Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but they still have some issues about their offense to make me wonder whether the Giants will even get back to the postseason. The Dodgers are a strong team that just seem a step below Colorado and San Francisco, while the Padres still have a strong pitching staff, but their lineup really lacks power after the trade of 1B Adrian Gonzalez. The young Diamondbacks certainly have enough talented players to surprise some folks. Ultimately, I picked Arizona last, but if they can get their bullpen straightened out and new manager Kirk Gibson gets breakout seasons from OFs Chris Young and Justin Upton, then Arizona will be a team that can hang with anyone.
World Series Predictions: Rangers over Rockies
In the AL, originally I had the Red Sox winning the pennant, but they seem to have a lot of issues with their pitching, so I changed my mind and am now picking the Rangers, a team with just as potent a lineup as the Red Sox and somewhat less issues in their pitching staff, especially since Neftali Feliz is back in the closer's role. In the NL, the Phillies seem to be the favorite, and with their four aces in the rotation, I can see why. Call me crazy, but I think the Rockies are simply the most talented team in the National League, and they have both the pitching and lineup to get through any series. At the end of the day (or season), I expect the Rangers to learn from last year and win the World Series in six games.
Awards Predictions:
AL MVP:
1. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox
2. Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers
3. Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays
Dark Horse: Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins
Gonzalez has spent the majority of his career playing in relative obscurity in a park that greatly suppresses production. If he can handle the heat of playing in Boston, expect Gonzalez to put up a monster year and win his first MVP award. Last year's MVP, Josh Hamilton, is still among the most gifted players in the game. It wouldn't be surprising if Hamilton provided another MVP caliber season, although he does have some issues with staying healthy. Heading into his fourth season, Longoria must have his best year yet if the Rays expect to compete in the AL East. However, an early season injury greatly affects Longoria's chances. Keep an eye on Morneau, who was putting together MVP-caliber numbers before a concussion sidelined him last season. If Morneau can come all the way back, he certainly has the power to become an MVP candidate.
NL MVP:
1. Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals
2. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies
3. Joey Votto, 1B, Reds
Dark Horse: Jason Heyward, OF, Braves
Pujols is the best player in baseball, and if that's not enough, he's playing for a new contract this year. Tulowitzki provides the power of a top-notch slugger with the glove of a slick fielding shortstop. If he can put it all together this year, Tulo could win his first MVP. Votto won his first MVP last year, and should be in contention again provided that the Reds stay in contention for a division crown. Heyward may just be 21, but even so, he has the talent to turn in a monster season this year.
AL Cy Young Award:
1. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners
2. Jon Lester, SP, Red Sox
3. C.C. Sabathia, SP, Yankees
Dark Horse: John Danks, SP, White Sox
Last year's winner, Hernandez may not play for the best team, but as he showed last year, you can overcome an unspectacular win-loss record as long as you dominate the league. Lester has long been expected to become the ace of the Red Sox, and this may be the year. A 20-win season is not out of the question. Sabathia has a great lineup behind him, and a 20-win season is certainly in play is Sabathia continues his excellent pitching work. It may just be a gut feeling of mine, but I feel that John Danks is going to have a big year for the Sox this year, winning 18+ games with an ERA under 3 and becoming the ace of the White Sox. He certainly seems to have the right stuff to become a top-notch pitcher.
NL Cy Young Award:
1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies
2. Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants
3. Cliff Lee, SP, Phillies
Dark Horse: Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers
Halladay won the Cy Young last year, and should be his same excellent self this year as well. Lincecum may not get the best run-support, but the two time Cy Young winner is still amongst the very best pitchers in baseball, and a third Cy Young could be in the not too distant future. The big free agent signing of 2011, Lee gives the Phillies yet another pitcher capable of dominating the league. If Lee gets enough run support, he could definitely win 20 games. Keep an eye on the 23-year old Kershaw, as few pitchers on the planet have better stuff than the young Dodgers' ace. As long as he stays healthy, Kershaw should be one of the top pitchers in baseball this season.
AL Rookie of the Year Award:
1. Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Rays
2. Michael Pineda, SP, Mariners
3. Kyle Drabek, SP, Blue Jays
Dark Horse: Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals
Hellickson has been compared to a young Greg Maddux, among others. While that may seem a bit premature, the Rays feel that Hellickson is ready now, and I think he will prove the Rays were right in trading Matt Garza to open up a spot for Hellickson. Pineda has been compared to his current teammate, Felix Hernandez, and if Pineda comes anywhere close to the excellence of King Felix, then he's a definite contender for this award. The son of a former Cy Young winner, Drabek has been one of the most hyped prospects in baseball over the past couple of years, and now it's time to see just how good he can be. Although Moustakas has started the season in the minor leagues, don't be surprised to see him in Kansas City in the next month or so. If he gets the call, Moustakas has the bat to make a huge impact and possibly a run at the AL Rookie of the Year award.
NL Rookie of the Year Award:
1. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves
2. Arlodis Chapman, SP, Reds
3. Brandon Belt, 1B, Giants
Dark Horse: Craig Kimbrel, RP, Braves
Okay, so Freeman hasn't exactly set the world on fire thus far, but the young first baseman will get every chance to prove he can stick in the show, and he should find his footing rather quickly. Chapman, the young Cuban fireballer, should make a major impact for the Reds this season, although it's hard to see him winning the award if he's only going to be used in middle relief. Belt made the Giants out of spring training, and if he hits the way he did in spring training, then the Giants may have their second straight ROY winner. Although the Braves haven't come out and said it, Kimbrel is for all intents and purposes the Braves closer, and with his 97-mph fastball, a 40 save season is a very distinct possibility, provided that Kimbrel doesn't lose his control.
Well, thank you for reading the 2011 better late than never Canon Review Baseball Preview. Don't worry, it will not be another two weeks before posts again, as I suddenly have a lot more free time on my hands. Remember, if you have any ideas for future reviews, or comments about this or previous reviews, then send them to me either by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on the blog.
Predictions (* = Wild Card)
American League
AL East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees*
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles
Despite their 0-6 start, I'm still picking the Red Sox to win out in the AL East, simply because they have the most talent out of any team in that division by far with the additions of OF Carl Crawford and 1B Adrian Gonzalez to an already strong lineup. Yes, they have questions about their rotation and C Jarrod Saltalamacchia has failed to impress so far, but even so, the Sox are still the best team here. The Yankees may be a bit long in the tooth at some spots, but with stars like 1B Mark Teixeira, 2B Robinson Cano, 3B Alex Rodriguez, and SP C.C. Sabathia, the Bronx Bombers are still a force to be reckoned with. Any team with the amount of power the Blue Jays have to be considered a threat, and if their young rotation comes together this season, then Toronto could make some noise in the AL East. The Rays have just lost too many quality players, and it doesn't help matters that 3B Evan Longoria is hurt. Not to mention the abrupt retirement of Manny Ramirez, although it's hard to say whether or not the Rays will exactly miss a 1 for 17 hitter. The Orioles swept the Rays last weekend, and seem to be much improved, but I'm still skeptical about their chances, and I think they're still a year or two away from contending.
AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians
The White Sox have a powerful lineup boosted by the acquisition of DH Adam Dunn. With a solid rotation and a bullpen anchored by hard throwing lefties Chris Sale and Matt Thornton, I predict that Ozzie Guillen's team will emerge from a tight three team race to win the division. The Tigers signed C/1B Victor Martinez to give a boost to an offense powered by 1B Miguel Cabrera. While the Tigers have a good team, I think they have too many issues in the infield to win the division. If the Twins' 1B Justin Morneau and closer Joe Nathan come completely back from injury, then there may be postseason baseball in the Twin Cities again. However, both the White Sox and Tigers should be better teams this year, so the Twins will find it difficult to defend their division crown. The Royals have an immensely deep farm system, but most of their top prospects are still a year or two away from the majors, so while Kansas City's on the right path, expect another tough season for the Royals. The Indians have some solid young players like C Carlos Santana and RF Shin Soo-Choo, but the Tribe is in rebuilding mode and are at least two years away from contention.
AL West
1. Texas Rangers
2. Oakland Athletics
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
4. Seattle Mariners
Yes, the Rangers lost Cliff Lee, but they did add 3B Adrian Beltre to an already potent lineup and remain the most talented team in the AL West by far. The Athletics have some great young pitchers in Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, and Gio Gonzalez, but Oakland could use a little more offense, even with the additions of OFs Josh Willingham and David DeJesus and DH Hideki Matsui. The Angels missed out on Carl Crawford, so they made a panic trade for OF Vernon Wells that really doesn't help their team a whole lot. Despite the presence of SPs Dan Haren and Jared Weaver, the Angels have a look of a .500 team. The Mariners have defending Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez and perennial All-Star OF Ichiro Suzuki, and that's pretty much it.
National League
NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves*
3. Florida Marlins
4. Washington Nationals
5. New York Mets
While the Phillies do have some injury concerns, particularly with 2B Chase Utley and closer Brad Lidge, the Phils' awesome starting rotation and an offense powered by 1B Ryan Howard should be enough to give them a fifth straight NL East crown. If not, the Braves are in prime position to ascend to the throne, with a pretty decent rotation of their own. At the very least, I expect the Braves to nab the wild card spot. The Marlins still have SS Hanley Ramirez, and a top hitting prospect in RF Mike Stanton. But overall, the Marlins have too many holes to compete this year. Yes, the Nationals signed RF Jayson Werth to a megabucks contract, but their pitching still remains thin, especially with phenom Steven Strasburg out for the season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Mets are a mess right now, and I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to go on a full-scale fire sale at some point during the season in order to rebuild.
NL Central
1. Cincinnati Reds
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
This is the worst division in baseball this year, but even so the NL Central has three teams definitely capable of winning the crown this year, and the Cubs could even make a run if things go right for them. The defending champs, the Cincinnati Reds, are anchored by last year's MVP in 1B Joey Votto. While 3B Scott Rolen may take a step back this year, 2011 could also be the year that young outfielders Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce break out with All-Star caliber years, and if that happens, look out. If the Cardinals had SP Adam Wainwright available, I'd pick them to win the division. Alas, Wainwright's out for the year, so despite the presence of 1B Albert Pujols in a contract year, I still can't put them ahead of the Reds. The Brewers made a big move in trading for SP Zack Grienke, but unfortunately, Grienke's out until May with a rib injury. But a team that includes players such as OF Ryan Braun, 1B Prince Fielder, and SP Yovanni Gallardo should definitely be considered a contender. The Cubs seem to be in a weird spot right now, as if they can't decide whether to rebuild or not. But Chicago still has some talented players, and if guys like OF Alfonso Soriano and 3B Aramis Ramirez can play up to their massive contracts, then the Cubs could be the surprise team of the NL. The Astros have some good players like RF Hunter Pence and SP Brett Myers, but the majority of their roster is below average. The Pirates have had 18 losing seasons in a row, and despite a good start and some young talent like 3B Pedro Alverez, it's quite likely that 2011 will be season number 19 without a winning season.
NL West
1. Colorado Rockies
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. San Diego Padres
5. Arizona Diamondbacks
Other than the AL East, the NL West may be baseball's strongest division. The Rockies have solid pitching staff and a powerful lineup led by SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Carlos Gonzalez. Just like last year, I'm picking the Rockies to emerge as the champs come October. The defending World Champion Giants still have an excellent pitching staff powered by Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but they still have some issues about their offense to make me wonder whether the Giants will even get back to the postseason. The Dodgers are a strong team that just seem a step below Colorado and San Francisco, while the Padres still have a strong pitching staff, but their lineup really lacks power after the trade of 1B Adrian Gonzalez. The young Diamondbacks certainly have enough talented players to surprise some folks. Ultimately, I picked Arizona last, but if they can get their bullpen straightened out and new manager Kirk Gibson gets breakout seasons from OFs Chris Young and Justin Upton, then Arizona will be a team that can hang with anyone.
World Series Predictions: Rangers over Rockies
In the AL, originally I had the Red Sox winning the pennant, but they seem to have a lot of issues with their pitching, so I changed my mind and am now picking the Rangers, a team with just as potent a lineup as the Red Sox and somewhat less issues in their pitching staff, especially since Neftali Feliz is back in the closer's role. In the NL, the Phillies seem to be the favorite, and with their four aces in the rotation, I can see why. Call me crazy, but I think the Rockies are simply the most talented team in the National League, and they have both the pitching and lineup to get through any series. At the end of the day (or season), I expect the Rangers to learn from last year and win the World Series in six games.
Awards Predictions:
AL MVP:
1. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox
2. Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers
3. Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays
Dark Horse: Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins
Gonzalez has spent the majority of his career playing in relative obscurity in a park that greatly suppresses production. If he can handle the heat of playing in Boston, expect Gonzalez to put up a monster year and win his first MVP award. Last year's MVP, Josh Hamilton, is still among the most gifted players in the game. It wouldn't be surprising if Hamilton provided another MVP caliber season, although he does have some issues with staying healthy. Heading into his fourth season, Longoria must have his best year yet if the Rays expect to compete in the AL East. However, an early season injury greatly affects Longoria's chances. Keep an eye on Morneau, who was putting together MVP-caliber numbers before a concussion sidelined him last season. If Morneau can come all the way back, he certainly has the power to become an MVP candidate.
NL MVP:
1. Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals
2. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies
3. Joey Votto, 1B, Reds
Dark Horse: Jason Heyward, OF, Braves
Pujols is the best player in baseball, and if that's not enough, he's playing for a new contract this year. Tulowitzki provides the power of a top-notch slugger with the glove of a slick fielding shortstop. If he can put it all together this year, Tulo could win his first MVP. Votto won his first MVP last year, and should be in contention again provided that the Reds stay in contention for a division crown. Heyward may just be 21, but even so, he has the talent to turn in a monster season this year.
AL Cy Young Award:
1. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners
2. Jon Lester, SP, Red Sox
3. C.C. Sabathia, SP, Yankees
Dark Horse: John Danks, SP, White Sox
Last year's winner, Hernandez may not play for the best team, but as he showed last year, you can overcome an unspectacular win-loss record as long as you dominate the league. Lester has long been expected to become the ace of the Red Sox, and this may be the year. A 20-win season is not out of the question. Sabathia has a great lineup behind him, and a 20-win season is certainly in play is Sabathia continues his excellent pitching work. It may just be a gut feeling of mine, but I feel that John Danks is going to have a big year for the Sox this year, winning 18+ games with an ERA under 3 and becoming the ace of the White Sox. He certainly seems to have the right stuff to become a top-notch pitcher.
NL Cy Young Award:
1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies
2. Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants
3. Cliff Lee, SP, Phillies
Dark Horse: Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers
Halladay won the Cy Young last year, and should be his same excellent self this year as well. Lincecum may not get the best run-support, but the two time Cy Young winner is still amongst the very best pitchers in baseball, and a third Cy Young could be in the not too distant future. The big free agent signing of 2011, Lee gives the Phillies yet another pitcher capable of dominating the league. If Lee gets enough run support, he could definitely win 20 games. Keep an eye on the 23-year old Kershaw, as few pitchers on the planet have better stuff than the young Dodgers' ace. As long as he stays healthy, Kershaw should be one of the top pitchers in baseball this season.
AL Rookie of the Year Award:
1. Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Rays
2. Michael Pineda, SP, Mariners
3. Kyle Drabek, SP, Blue Jays
Dark Horse: Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals
Hellickson has been compared to a young Greg Maddux, among others. While that may seem a bit premature, the Rays feel that Hellickson is ready now, and I think he will prove the Rays were right in trading Matt Garza to open up a spot for Hellickson. Pineda has been compared to his current teammate, Felix Hernandez, and if Pineda comes anywhere close to the excellence of King Felix, then he's a definite contender for this award. The son of a former Cy Young winner, Drabek has been one of the most hyped prospects in baseball over the past couple of years, and now it's time to see just how good he can be. Although Moustakas has started the season in the minor leagues, don't be surprised to see him in Kansas City in the next month or so. If he gets the call, Moustakas has the bat to make a huge impact and possibly a run at the AL Rookie of the Year award.
NL Rookie of the Year Award:
1. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves
2. Arlodis Chapman, SP, Reds
3. Brandon Belt, 1B, Giants
Dark Horse: Craig Kimbrel, RP, Braves
Okay, so Freeman hasn't exactly set the world on fire thus far, but the young first baseman will get every chance to prove he can stick in the show, and he should find his footing rather quickly. Chapman, the young Cuban fireballer, should make a major impact for the Reds this season, although it's hard to see him winning the award if he's only going to be used in middle relief. Belt made the Giants out of spring training, and if he hits the way he did in spring training, then the Giants may have their second straight ROY winner. Although the Braves haven't come out and said it, Kimbrel is for all intents and purposes the Braves closer, and with his 97-mph fastball, a 40 save season is a very distinct possibility, provided that Kimbrel doesn't lose his control.
Well, thank you for reading the 2011 better late than never Canon Review Baseball Preview. Don't worry, it will not be another two weeks before posts again, as I suddenly have a lot more free time on my hands. Remember, if you have any ideas for future reviews, or comments about this or previous reviews, then send them to me either by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on the blog.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
A look back at Bobby Cox's World Series Teams
This post comes from an idea from Canon Review reader Dickson S. Since I'm not exactly sure how to introduce, I'll just repost his idea here:
Since the Atlanta Braves are going to the Playoffs again for the first time in 5 years or so I thought up this idea.
Since the Atlanta Braves are going to the Playoffs again for the first time in 5 years or so I thought up this idea.
Talk about each year/time that the Braves actually made it to the world series. 91,92 so on and so forth. Talk about the series and what your thoughts are... on if you think they should have won. For instance there were a few World Series that the Braves were in that could have went either way. You can mention your thoughts on the teams they played and if you think the Braves lineups matched up to the Twins, Blue Jays.....etc.
And finally once that is all complete mention your thoughts on today's 2010 Braves and how you think they will do in the 2010 Playoffs?
Well, that sounds all right to me, so let's look back at the Braves' World Series appearances under the legendary Bobby Cox.
1991- Braves vs. Minnesota Twins, Twins win 4 games to 3 - In one of the greatest World Series ever, the Braves battled the Twins in a battle of two teams that jumped from worst-to-first. There was three extra innings games, including the final game, which ended in a 1-0 score for the Twins. The Braves could have won had Lonnie Smith not fallen for Chuck Knoblauch's deke, causing Smith to eventually stop at third on Terry Pendleton's double. Really, the series could have gone either way. Both teams were rather even, as each team had three quality starting pitchers, and while the Twins had the best reliever in Rick Aguilera, the Braves had the better overall bullpen by a slight edge. Offensively, both teams got nothing out of the first base position, as the Twins Kent Hrbek hit 3 for 26, while the Braves combo of Sid Bream and Brian Hunter went a combined 7 for 45. Both teams got key contributions from role players, as Braves 2B Mark Lemke hit .417 in the World and got the game winning hit in game 3, while Twins 3B Scott Leius hit .357 and hit the game winning home run in game 2. Overall, this was a great battle between two good teams that could have gone either way. It would be easy to blame Smith for his baserunning gaffe, but to be fair, he did hit three home runs, including a game tying homer late in game 4. If anyone could have made a difference, it would have been Braves speedster Otis Nixon, but he was suspended for the postseason after failing a drug test. But really, the series was so close that it's hard to blame the Braves for coming up just a game short. If only they could have hit Jack Morris.
1992 World Series - Braves vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto wins 4 games to 2 - There are three things I remember most about this series. One was the controversy that ensued after the Canadian flag was displayed upside down during the signing of the Canadian national anthem before game 2. Also, there was Devon White's great leaping catch in game three that should have resulted in a triple play, but the umpire missed the call on Kelly Gruber's tag of Deion Sanders, and then there was Toronto catcher Pat Borders, who had the series of his life, hitting .450 and walking away with the World Series MVP. Oddly enough, the Braves got a second chance to face Jack Morris in the World Series, and this time, the Braves' only two wins came off of the same man that had frustrated them so much in the previous year's series. Coming into the series, the teams looked rather even, but the Braves figured to have the edge in pitching. While the Braves' rotation of Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery pitched well (combined 2.55) ERA, the Braves' bullpen struggled, as Jeff Reardon gave up game winning hits in back to back games, and it was Charlie Liebrandt that gave up the eventual Series clinching hit to Dave Winfield in game 6. Offensively, two of the Braves' big guns, Ron Gant and David Justice, struggled mightily against Toronto pitching, as they combined to hit 5-27 with a combined three RBIs. Despite Deion Sanders best efforts (8 hits in 15 at bats), the Braves just came up short again. Ultimately, the Jays' clutch hitting and quality bullpen (one earned run in 17 innings) propelled them to Canada's first World Series champion. The Braves might have been a slightly better team, but the Blue Jays definitely were a deserving champion.
1995 World Series - Braves vs. Cleveland Indians, Braves win 4 games to 2 - This was a battle of strengths, as the Braves' vaunted pitching staff battled the Indians' high powered offense. The Indians came in with a 100-44 record after the shortened 1995 season, powered by an offense that led the majors in nearly every major offensive category. The Braves weren't exactly slouches on offense, but their lineup had nowhere near the firepower of the Indians. So, what did the Indians do against the Braves' pitching? They hit .179 and scored a mere 19 runs in their six games after averaging nearly six runs a game in the regular season. The only Indians regular that was effective in the series was Albert Belle, and even he (.235, 2 HR, 7 BB) was nowhere near the player he was in the regular season. With the exception of John Smoltz, who struggled in game 3, the Braves' pitching annihilated the Indians' hitting, culminating with MVP Tom Glavine's and Mark Wohlers combined one-hitter in the series clinching game. The success of the 1995 Braves just goes to show that great pitching can beat great hitting.
1996 World Series - Braves vs. New York Yankees, Yankees win 4 games to 2 - This one hurt. In hindsight, it may look as if the Yankees had the better team, but at the time it was thought that the Braves would easily take this series. Not only did the Braves have the better rotation, they also had a deeper lineup and more offensive firepower than the 96 Bronx Bombers. After the first two games, in which the Braves won by a combined total of 16-1, it looked as if Atlanta might sweep the Yankees. But once again, the Braves' bullpen faltered when they needed them the most, specifically in game 4, when the Braves blew a 6-0 lead. Yankees pitching shut down the Braves in games 5 and 6, and the Yankees won their first World Series since 1978. Even though the Braves' starters put together a 1.48 ERA, they fell short once again. Honestly, when you compare the two teams, you would figure the Braves would have won, but obviously that did not happen. If only Wohlers hadn't of hung that slider to Jim Leyritz in game 6.
1999 World Series - Braves vs. Yankees, Yankees win 4 games to 0 - The Braves won 103 games in the regular, although I don't see how. 1B Andres Galarraga missed the entire season due to cancer, C Javy Lopez misses most of the season due to injury, and outside of Chipper Jones, Ryan Klesko, Andruw Jones, and Brian Jordan, the Braves had a bunch of below average players in their lineup. Pitching wise, although SP Kevin Millwood and CP John Rocker were outstanding, Glavine and Maddux didn't have their typical excellent seasons, although they still were pretty good. Meanwhile, the Yankees had All-Stars at nearly every position, and had just won the World Series in 1998. In game 1, John Rocker continued the Braves' tradition of bullpen woes in the World Series after reliving Greg Maddux in the eighth inning, and in game 3, the Braves had a 5-2 lead heading into the seventh inning, but eventually lost after Chad Curtis' game ending homer. The Yankees would sweep the Braves, outscoring the Braves 21-9. It might have helped had Andruw Jones and Jordan hadn't combined to hit 2-26 in the series, but quite frankly, the Yankees were just the better team that year.
Before I end this post, I have to mention the 1998 Braves. After all, they were Bobby Cox's best regular season squad, finishing the season with 106 wins. That team was powered by four players which hit 30 or more home runs (Galarraga, Lopez, both Joneses) and boasted a pitching staff in which each starter won at least 16 games, and the big three of Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz combined for a 55-18 record and a 2.49 ERA. However, in the NLCS the Braves ran into the San Diego Padres and Sterling Hitchcock, an otherwise mediocre pitcher who frustrated the Braves by winning two games and allowing a mere five hits and one run in his two starts. Hitchcock and the Padres' shutdown of the best Braves team in the Bobby Cox prevented Atlanta from a showdown with the Yankees in the World Series, and although the Yankees were a heck of a team that year, I'm willing to bet that the Braves would have had a better shot at beating the Yanks than the Padres did. But that's just the way the cookie crumbles.
It would be nice if the Braves could finish off Bobby Cox's career with another appearance in the World Series. It doesn't look that likely, as the Phillies are probably the most complete team in baseball, and the Giants are not exactly a pushover in the NLDS. On paper, it looks as if the Braves will be unable to reach their sixth World Series under Bobby Cox. But, as the Braves have proven, the games aren't played on paper, and many times the team that has the most talent doesn't win the series. So, if the Braves get some good pitching and a couple of their hitters get hot at the right time, who knows? Maybe Bobby Cox will go out on top.
Well, thanks for reading. Feel free to share any memories of the Braves' World Series teams, or any disagreements you may have with this post in the comments section. Also, if you have any ideas for future reviews, then let me know about them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
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