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Posted by on Aug 2, 2013 in Pat Wong, Sports | 0 comments

Baseball July Progress Report: AL

derek-jeter

AL East

1.       Boston Red Sox (65-44)

The Red Sox had another strong month going 15-10. Their strength remains their offense led by veteran stars David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia. However, their starting pitching is questionable at this point. After a hot start, their starters have come down to Earth. They also need Clay Buchholz to return from the DL as he has been dominant with a 1.71 ERA this season. The Red Sox also made a solid trade bringing in Jake Peavy. While he is injury prone, he can pitch like a top of the rotation pitcher when he is healthy. While they have had a lot of trouble with their closers this year, Koji Uehara has solidified the role as he has been ridiculous with a 1.46 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, and a 70K/8BB ratio for the season. The Red Sox are one of the best teams in baseball. However, their starting pitching and bullpen needs to hold up for them to win a tough AL East and avoid the one game playoff.

Score: A (Trade Grade: B+)

2.       Tampa Bay Rays (64-44)

The Rays had a ridiculous June going 21-5 to erase their deficit to the Red Sox. The Rays overtook the Red Sox for first for a bit and right on their heels now. It should be a seesaw battle the rest of the way. The Rays starting pitching struggled early and they were carried by their offense. Nevertheless, their pitching has surged. It is a ridiculously deep rotation with top prospects, such as Chris Archer, coming up and dominating whenever a starter goes down. While ace David Price had a nightmare start to the season, he has been dominant since returning from injury. He has been as dominant as any pitcher in baseball in July with a 1.68 ERA and a ridiculous 35 Ks and only one walk. The Rays also have their best offense in years. Top outfield prospect Wil Myers has come up and made them even better as he is tearing it up beating .331 with 7 homers and 27 RBIs in 36 games. The Rays also made a strong trade deadline acquisition by picking up Jesse Crain, who has been a dominant setup man this year with a 0.74 ERA. Crain and Joel Peralta form a nasty bridge to the closer. Fernando Rodney has been inconsistent as a closer. If he can get back to pitching to anything close to what he was last year, the Rays will have an almost unhittable back of the bullpen. The Rays are the most complete team in the division.

Grade: A (Trade Grade: B)

3.       Baltimore Orioles (59-49)

The Orioles are one of the best young teams in baseball. First basemen Chris Davis is still the story with 39 homers and 100 RBIs already and could make a run at hitting 60 homeruns. Their starting pitching is shaky and is the reason they are trailing by 5 games instead of even with the Red Sox and Rays. However, they made some solid acquisitions getting starters Scott Feldman and Bud Norris before the trade deadline. While they still do not have the ace and number 2 starter that could pitch them to a World Series, their starting pitching should be good enough to keep them in the hunt for the division. Francisco Rodriguez is another solid acquisition that will help their bullpen. The Orioles did a great job making all three trades without giving up key prospects.

Grade: B+ (Trade Grade: B+)

4.       New York Yankees (56-51)

Due to allowing key free agents walk and injuries to multiple key players, the Yankees have their worst offense in years and have little to no power. Over the course of the season, it is very difficult to win consistently without the ability to score with the homeruns as it is too long of a season to score via stringing together singles every game. The Yankees have done well to be over .500 with the team they have. Alfonso Soriano is a decent acquisition as he can still provide power. He is an upgrade but it is because the offense cannot get much worse. Their starting pitching has not been as strong as it needs to be to make up for the lack of offense as only Hideki Kuroda is having a great year. The bullpen is the strength of the team and Mariano Rivera is ending his career in style. Unless the veteran hitters can come back from injury and play well, the great postseason closer may not see the postseason in his final season.

Grade: B (Trade Grade: C+)

5.       Toronto Blue Jays (50-57)

The Blue Jays spent a ton of money in the offseason which only bought huge expectations before the season. Unfortunately, it has bought nothing for them in the regular season. A trendy pick to have a big year will probably finish last in the division.

Grade: F

 

 

AL Central

1.       Detroit Tigers (61-45)

The Tigers are finally playing up to their potential with an 18-8 month. They have great hitters and great pitching. Miguel Cabrera is having another MVP season batting .359 with 32 homeruns and 99 RBIs. While they have been trying to solve their only weakness at the closer position, Joaquin Benoit has stepped up with a 1.47 ERA out of the bullpen. They also made a solid acquisition getting Jose Veras from the Houston Astros to deepen the bullpen. Veras is having a solid year with a 2.93 ERA with an impressive 44K/ 14BB ratio, which is a significant improvement from his career.

Grade: B+ (Trade: B)

2.       Cleveland Indians (59-48)

The Indians continue to be one of the better stories in baseball.  They have one of the better offenses with a lot of power. However, their starting pitching has held it together but I have doubts it can hold up to be able to beat the Tigers out for the division. However, they will be in it for one of the Wild Cards.

Grade: A-

3.       Kansas City Royals (53-51)

It looked another disappointing season where they would finish under .500. However, they have ridden a long winning streak at the end of July to surge past .500. They have had one of the most hyped farm systems in recent years. Some of those prospects are beginning to come into their own. First basemen Eric Hosmer had a slow start but finally showing signs that he can be a top hitter hitting 10 of his 11 homeruns in the last two months. He is also batting over .300 in each of the last two months. Greg Holland has emerged as a top closer with an outrageous 1.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 65 Ks compared to 12 walks in 41 innings. It will be interesting to see if the Royals get a few more young players to emerge and ride the momentum toward a Wild Card Spot or whether the recent winning streak is just a blip on the screen.

Grade: B

4.       Minnesota Twins (45-59)

I am surprised that they did not trade away any of their players. Morneau is a pending free agent and a player I thought they would trade. The Twins play hard but do not have the talent to win.

Grade: C

5.       Chicago White Sox (40-65)

The White Sox are having a total nightmare season which forced them to trade a couple of their best players at the deadline.

Grade: F

 

AL West

1.       Oakland As (63-45)

The As are one of the best young teams in baseball with talented young players on both sides of the ball. If Yoenis Cespedes can get going and start hitting like he did in the Homerun Derby, he can carry the As to another level. The As have a deep rotation. However, the lack of an ace will hurt during the postseason. Nevertheless, they are the clear best team in the division.

Grade: A

2.       Texas Rangers (59-49)

The Rangers offense has taken significant steps backwards this season. Nelson Cruz has been one of their best hitters with 25 homeruns. However, he will likely be suspended the rest of the season at some point for his involvement with the Biogenesis clinic. As such, their anemic offense will be worse down the stretch. Yu Darvish is pitching like a top pitcher and Derek Holland is a decent number 2. I really like the acquisition of Matt Garza who has been pitching lights out recently. He also has had postseason success and pitched like an ace in the 2008 playoffs when the Rays got to the World Series. Their bullpen is also very strong. They will have a tough time keeping up with the As for the division. However, the Rangers would be a threat in the postseason with their top 3 starters and a great bullpen.

Grade: B+ (Trade Grade: B+)

3.       Seattle Mariners (50-57)

The Mariners have a terrible offense and their pitching staff has not been as good as previous years. Ironically, they have individual players on both sides of the ball having very good years. Raul Ibanez has been a surprise hitting 24 homers. Kendrys Morales has been productive as an offseason acquisition. In the starting rotation, Felix Hernandez is great as usual and Hisashi Iwakuma is having a breakout season. Unfortunately, these players are not getting enough support from their teammates.

Grade: C

  1. 4.       Los Angeles Angels (48-58)

The Angels have thrown money at their problems and created a mess. Albert Pujols looks broken down and has 8 more years on his contract. Josh Hamilton is this year’s offseason signing bust. At least, he only has 4 years left on his contract.

Grade: F

5.       Houston Astros (36-70)

If you are going to lose, might as well finish dead last for the first pick of the draft. They traded away their best starter in Bud Norris and closer Jose Veras at the trade deadline. They are one of the favorites to get the first pick.

Grade: F (Trade Grade: A for achieving their goal of more losses)

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