Greinke Gives Halos Best Starting Five

A seismic shift of pitching prowess to Southern California occurred tonight.  With Major League Baseball’s trade deadline fast approaching (July 31^st) things are really starting to heat up.  Yes, the Seattle Mariners trading their veteran All-Star Ichiro Suzuki to the New York Yankees was a shocker, but things really got interesting on Friday night when the Milwaukee Brewers shipped their ace, Zack Greinke, to the Los Angeles Angels for three minor league prospects (two pitchers and a shortstop).

The move brings Greinke back to the American League, where he was an All-Star in 2009 with the Kansas City Royals.  More importantly, this deal gives the Angels the best starting rotation in baseball.

LA’s pitching staff was already loaded prior to this trade happening tonight.  The Angels rotation is of course led by All-Star and true ace Jared Weaver, who many would argue to be the best pitcher in the big leagues.  Weaver is backed up by fellow All-Star and former Texas Ranger, C.J. Wilson. 

Dan Haren has struggled as of late with a 6.97 ERA in July (2 starts), due largely impart because of injury.  However, Haren is a very talented pitcher and the Angels are paying him like one.  As Haren gets healthier, there is no doubt that he will have a major impact for his club as the postseason approaches. 

Jerome Williams’ struggles as a starter have opened the door for 24 year old right hander Garrett Richards.  Richards (3-2) possesses a 3.91 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 8 starts.  Not gaudy numbers by any stretch, but Richards has shown the ability to win games and pitch well giving the Angels a solid young starter deep in the rotation. 

Ervin Santana rounds it out, meaning Greinke will probably be the third starter for a dynamic starting five pitching staff. 

The Greinke deal truly shakes up the landscape around the American League.  The biggest impact will obviously be felt in the AL West.  The Angels are still five games back of the Rangers and are closely followed by the Oakland A’s, who sit a half game back for the AL’s top wildcard spot.  Greinke leaves the National League this season with a 9-3 record, a 3.44 ERA, and 122 strikeouts in 21 games played.   

This move has been one of many aggressive moves made by new Angels general manager, Jerry Dipoto.  He made a splash during the winter meetings when LA announced the signings of All-Star slugger Albert Pujols and the aforementioned pitcher, C.J. Wilson.  The Greinke trade shouldn’t have been such a surprise. 

Ramirez Makes Dodgers Favorites in the NL West

It was a solid debut in Dodger Blue for Hanley Ramirez.  Seemingly un-phased by his new surroundings, Ramirez stepped up to the plate in St. Louis, batting fifth, and delivered a triple, eventually turning it into a run.  He followed that up with a sac fly, and an RBI single in a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals.     

While the Marlins are unloading talent, the Dodgers are more than willing to accept it.   

The Los Angeles Dodgers proved active leading up to the trade deadline, trading for Miami Marlins veteran infielder, Hanley Ramirez, in a four player deal Wednesday. 

The acquisition of Ramirez pairs him with fellow All-Stars Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, while also giving the Dodgers one of the most exciting 3, 4, 5 batting trios in the majors.  Ramirez’s talents will with out a doubt provide swagger for a Dodger team that currently sits two games out of first, behind NL West rival San Francisco.    Not only does this addition add to the Hollywood flare the Dodgers are seeking under new ownership, but it also makes them the favorite to recapture the NL West crown. 

Ramirez needed a change in scenery; a new stadium, name, and uniforms weren’t enough to get him back in the grove.  Despite the shift from the old Marlins to the new Marlins, Ramirez never settled in.  Miami brought in free agent shortstop, Jose Reyes, which in turn forced Ramirez to play third base, a switch he seemed OK with.  Throw in an ocean of outfield grass in the new Marlins ball park and maybe too much change was at play.  Ramirez’s power numbers were falling drastically in the new park which can only be attributed to its gigantic dimensions.  It’s obvious that he would welcome the trade to LA.  A smaller outfield and the potential to play some shortstop, has to make him feel good about the situation.   

Ramirez had become a staple for the Marlins organization and their fans.  He voiced his disappointment for not having delivered any postseason action for the club in an ESPN.com report; "I leave with some regret, not having helped bring a championship to Miami," Ramirez said. "But otherwise, I just keep positive memories of my time with the team." 

Ramirez’s words reflect the professional that he is and his willingness to yet again deal with change in 2012. 

Now Ramirez has a whole new club to adjust to and the Dodgers hope this latest change can give his career the jolt it needs.  A career with a resume that is highlighted by a .300 average, a 2006 rookie of the year award, and ’08-’09 Silver Slugger honors, LA has to believe that their newest investment can help lift them into the World Series, sooner rather than later.  Tonight’s debut performance was a fine start and perhaps a sign of things to come.   

Rising A's

It took 12 innings, but the Oakland A’s completed a four game sweep of the New York Yankees in fine fashion.  A’s outfielder, Coco Crisp, stepped up as a pinch hitter and drilled a walk-off single that allowed teammate Derek Norris to cross the plate for the winning run.  The Yankees would fall 5-4 and leave the Bay Area without a single win.  A surprising series for the Yankees, but an even more improbable one for the A’s. 

No one was giving Oakland a fighting chance at making the postseason during preseason discussions.  By the time they opened up their season in Japan for a two game series against the Seattle Mariners, they were all but forgotten about.  Now, they sit one game back of the LA Angels for the top wild card spot (51-44) and currently rank in the top ten in all four major pitching categories (4^th ERA, 10^th Q Starts, 3^rd WHIP, 4^th BAA). 

Pitching has clearly been their calling card so far in 2012.  Led predominantly by 25 year old lefty, Tommy Milone, who has stepped up with a team leading 9 wins and 86 strikeouts, the A’s are counting on their arms (young and old) to help fuel the charge. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, 39 year old veteran right hander, Bartolo Colon, has been a satisfying addition to the young A’s starting rotation.  Colon’s resurgent play in Oakland can’t be defined by his 6-8 record or by his trademark body about to burst out of his uniform.  He is bettering his career ERA and WHIP at the moment, but it is his experience and energy that has to be sending positive vibes through the A’s entire clubhouse. 

Oakland needs all of the good vibes they can get.  They are grinding out wins and that can only carry them so far.  Talented hungry teams in the AL East are looming and will be sure to charge for one of the two wild card spots come October.

Statistically the bats aren’t producing enough to keep the A’s head above water.  They are treading feverishly at the moment, ranking near the bottom of the league in the four major batting categories (27^th in Runs, 30^th BA, 28^th OBP, 25^th Slg Pct). 

Outfielder Josh Reddick is having a career year and rookie outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is flying under the radar, despite 13 homeruns and a .299 average at the plate.  Those two guys have been the catalyst on the field and in the box for Oakland for all of 2012; giving promise to a fan base that hasn’t witnessed the playoffs since 2006. 

    

The 2012 A’s are a far cry from the franchise’s dynasties of the early 1970’s, but no one expected Oakland to be in the position they are in right now.  They just swept arguably the hottest team in baseball and did so in the grind it out fashion they have become accustom to.      

With a solid rotation and a deep bullpen, Oakland is poised to build off of the momentum they have obtained so far.  Their work needs to improve at the plate.  However, if the strong pitching holds up then all Oakland might need is continued clutch hitting late in games.  They need this because Reggie Jackson or Mark McGwire aren’t walking through that clubhouse door and that’s probably ok with the 2012 Oakland A’s.  

Indecision Equals Payday for Howard

Dwight Howard continues to be the topic of discussion dominating the NBA offseason.  Yesterday, the Howard talk got even more interesting as another twist got interwoven in the mix.  Howard’s agent, Dan Fegan, stated that his client would not sign an extension with the Los Angeles Lakers or with any team for that matter.  This story coming only one day after it was reported that Howard would in fact sign an extension with the Lakers if dealt there.

The All-Star center’s indecision has damaged his image and made him a villain in the city of Orlando.  His most recent decision not to sign an extension with anyone is a smart move on his part, financially.  Howard will be eligible to sign a max deal after this upcoming season for five years and 116.9 million.   

The Brooklyn Nets apparently never made the commitment to sign an extension with them a precondition before they would have traded for Howard.  Howard’s top choice all along has been to be dealt to the Nets, but that will not happen this summer.  The Lakers and Houston Rockets have been aggressive in trying to swing a deal, but as of now nothing is imminent.

The Magic don’t have to do anything.  They don’t have to trade Howard, although they should.  Build a team for the future and move on.  Obviously, a Howard trade could be the foundation on which to build on. 

However, it is Dwight Howard’s inability to make up his mind that captures the headlines.  As bad as it makes him look, it will payoff for him in the end.  The team that does land Howard for next season will have to earn his signature to stay on board long term.  If they don’t, then the money will still be there and Howard will have the freedom to be recruited by many of the top franchises in the league.  His indecision probably doesn’t seem that bad in his mind. 

Stairway in Seven

In what could be an early October wildcard (play-in game) preview, the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers have split games one and two of a four game series in the Motor City.  After tonight’s 13-0 thumping of the Tigers, the Angels progress to 50-41, improving their lead atop the AL wildcard standings and still giving them a shot at chasing down the Texas Rangers in the AL West. 

If there was ever an up and down season for a World Series contender, it would be the 2012 Angels.  The Angels are opening up baseballs second half with a daunting seven game road trip; which has already included three games at Yankee Stadium and now a four game set in Detroit.  After LA's horrible opening to the 2012 season, this seven game roadie could serve as building blocks for a playoff run. 

Heading into tonight’s matchup, the Angels were sitting at 1-3 through four games.  In the midst of a seven game gauntlet and coming off of a disappointing loss to the Tigers on Monday night, LA’s bats came alive early in game two against the Tigers.  Mark Trumbo, Mike Trout, and Albert Pujols all homered by the end to the second inning, propelling LA to a 7-0 lead heading into the top of the third.  The early onslaught buried the Tigers, thus giving LA a potential momentum building victory going forward in 2012. 

The Angels hit five homeruns total in a win they needed desperately.  Even though it’s the middle of July, LA could not afford another let down and fall to 1-4 on their second half opening road trip.   

The Angels have been by far the most intriguing team to follow in the AL; not because of their inconsistency at times, but due in large part because of their call-ups and acquisitions. 

Outfielder Mark Trumbo, who first debuted in eight games with the Angels in 2010, has been remarkable.  He currently has homered six times in his last eight games and leads his club in homeruns (26), RBI (65), and OPS (.995).  Twenty year old outfielder Mike Trout has a clear beat on the AL Rookie of the Year award.  Trout leads the Angels with a .355 batting average and 30 stolen bases.  Oh and let’s not forget that he is a monster athlete that could probably open up Chargers training camp as their starting tight-end.  LA’s super-star signee, Albert Pujols, finally seems to be adjusting to AL pitching.  With his single shot tonight, he sits on 16 homers and his average is slowly beginning to climb.

The Angels as a team are beginning to climb.  They have the pitching; that was never in question, but now all of their bats are becoming a force.  A three game home-stand against the Rangers follows the Detroit series.  Three games that could fuel an AL West showdown from here on out, now that’s something the Angels can build on.           

Not Fit for a King

It didn’t take a complete game shutout against one of the best teams in baseball to realize that three time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner, Felix Hernandez was an extraordinary pitcher.

What we might have realized last night was that no matter how impressive “King Felix” is in his starts, he might very well be wasting away in his youth for a bad Seattle Mariners team.   

Last nights 7-0 win in Seattle over the AL West division leading Texas Rangers, was a nice feather in the cap for a low producing (37-52) ball club.  Hernandez brought the pain to the “murders row” of Rangers by racking up 12 strikeouts and only giving up three hits.  The highlights from his performance include striking out Josh Hamilton in three at bats and doing the same to last years ALCS MVP, Nelson Cruz.  Hernandez was dialed in.  However, this wasn’t his first masterpiece of the 2012 season.  On June 28^th, he registered 13 strikeouts in a complete game shutout at home against the Boston Red Sox.

If you just looked at his record of 7-5 you might think he’s having a poor season, but wins and losses don’t define his ability, given where he has played his entire career.  When Hernandez won the 2010 AL Cy Young Award he had a record of 13-12, but had an ERA of 2.27 an allowed only 194 hits in 34 starts.  The Mariners finished in last place in the AL West that season with a record of 61-101.  The run support and talent wasn’t present then in Seattle for Hernandez to rack up the wins and it isn’t there now in 2012.  In fact, Felix Hernandez hasn’t even come close to pitching in the postseason since he was called up from the minors by the Mariners in 2005. 

Seattle is a wonderful city with some of the most passionate sports fans in the country.  They have watched the Hall of Fame career of outfielder Ichiro Suzuki for almost 12 seasons now without ever witnessing him come close to playing in a World Series and for that matter, the only time Suzuki has played in the postseason was in his first year with the Mariners in 2001.  It would be unprecedented and border line disastrous to see the same happen to Hernandez.

The right hander is currently three years into a five year extension he signed back in January of 2010 with Seattle.  The Mariners are indeed paying their ace big time dollars, as “King Felix” is set to earn 18.5 million dollars this season alone and a reported 19.5 million in 2013.  The money is nice and Hernandez clearly enjoys playing for the Mariners.  If he’s comfortable in the Emerald City then he should stay there.  If he wants to win and compete in meaningful games in his prime then he should consider playing elsewhere or put pressure on the Mariners to spend the money to get better. 

Maybe "King Felix" will learn from his future Hall of Fame teammate, not to be so loyal.  Suzuki’s amazing career is wrapping up.  It’s poignant that he will never play in a World Series for the city and the franchise he has been so loyal to.  Hernandez showed the same kind of loyalty when he re-upped with the Mariners in 2010.  When his contract expires after the 2014 season, Hernandez will be 28, still young, but who knows if Seattle will ever be competitive over the next couple of seasons.  Right now, it doesn’t seem likely that they will be.           

Giant Second Half

The San Francisco Giants open up baseball’s second half tonight against the Houston Astros and sit just a half game back of the NL West leading, Los Angeles Dodgers.  To say that the play of Giants All-Stars Matt Cain, Pablo Sandoval, and Melky Cabrera (All-Star MVP) last Tuesday night, didn’t mean anything would be misguided.  Cabrera and Sandoval had a hand in all of the eight total runs scored on the AL and Matt Cain only gave up one hit in the two innings he pitched.  Their performances clearly sent a message that they are ready to make a second half push for the NL West division title.

The Giants have to feel somewhat disrespected given all of the attention their bitter rival, the LA Dodgers, received early on. 

The Giants are just two years removed from winning the World Series and are still loaded with talent.  Their pitching as a whole ranks in the top ten of the four major statistical categories (ERA, Qt Starts, WHIP, BAA) and their newly acquired All-Star left fielder Melky Cabrera, is second in the NL behind Andrew McCutchen in batting average (.353) and leads the NL with 119 hits. 

Yet, the Giants have made headlines in other areas. 

Despite the negative reaction that surrounded it, Pablo Sandoval was voted in by the fans to start in the All-Star game at third base over Mets third baseman, David Wright.  Wrights numbers are better than Sandoval’s, but Sandoval is still having a very productive year for his team with a .863 OPS, which is higher than his career average of .857.

San Francisco has garnered more attention concerning the struggles of starting pitcher Tim Lincecum; rather than their star laden pitching lineup.  Couple that with the love their rivals to the south have obtained and the bad press that got stirred up when Sandoval was selected as a starter in the All-Star game…..San Francisco now has a giant chip on their shoulder to play with going forward; and that could be a scary thing for the rest of the NL West.