Sharp ESPN Article

THEGREAT30 · 03-02-10, 06:56 PM

Mariners for sure, good day

ZetaPsi808 · 03-15-10, 01:17 AM

bump for bobbyfk

denn333 · 03-15-10, 06:25 AM

definitely seattle.

mizzoujohn · 03-16-10, 05:53 PM

can anyone who is an ESPN insider post the article text ? thanks in advance.

onlyonerickyhatt · 03-16-10, 05:54 PM

Nice article, thanks.

stealthyburrito · 03-16-10, 06:06 PM

great article! good to know who to lay the money one

ZetaPsi808 · 03-16-10, 10:32 PM

Early-season scheduling winners

Last year you could look at the early-season schedules and make a couple of forecasts. First, the Toronto Blue Jays appeared to have a great chance to get off to a strong start, because they didn't have to dive into the AL Beast portion of their schedule -- with games against the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays -- until May. And second, the schedule appeared to work against Tampa Bay, because of how top-heavy it was with games against AL powerhouses. Sure enough, the Blue Jays got off to a great start and the Rays fell into a hole they were never really able to dig out of.

This stuff is a big deal, because early-season performance and perception, in the spring, can help shape attendance in summer. A strong start will also fuel a team's market aggressiveness, as executives decide whether to be buyers.
So which teams will be helped or hurt by the schedule in the first six or seven weeks?

Here's a look at the AL early-season schedules, with teams ranked from the toughest (bad news for the Orioles) to the easiest (the Rays catch a break this year).

Baltimore Orioles
Home/away: They are home for 15 of their first 35 games.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 28 of the first 35. No kidding.
Meat-grinder stuff: From April 23 to May 5, the Orioles play four consecutive series -- 12 straight games -- against the Red Sox and Yankees.
Detroit Tigers
Home/away: The Tigers are home for 19 of their first 39 games.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 27 of their first 39.
Meat-grinder stuff: After a soft start with nine games against the Royals and Indians, the Tigers hit the road for 11 straight games against AL West teams -- part of a stretch of 20 straight games against teams that finished over .500 last year.
New York Yankees
Home/away: The Yankees are home for 19 of their first 41 games.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 29 of their first 41.
Meat-grinder stuff: The Yankees start their season with 12 straight games against teams that posted records over .500 last year -- including six at Boston and six at Tampa Bay -- and then from May 7 to May 20, they play 14 straight games against AL contenders.
Kansas City Royals
Home/away: The Royals are home for 18 of the first 38 games.
Games against teams that finished over .500 last season: 26 of their first 38 games.
Meat-grinder stuff: From April 29 to May 9, the Royals will play 11 straight road games against the Rays, White Sox and Rangers.
Oakland Athletics
Home/away: The Athletics will be home for 20 of the first 38 games.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 27 of their first 38 games.
Meat-grinder stuff: Oakland gets a heavy, heavy dose of its AL West rivals early in the season, including its first 10 games, which include seven against Seattle and three against the Angels.
Los Angeles Angels
Home/away: 23 of the Angels' first 39 games are at home.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 27 of their first 39.
Meat-grinder stuff: The Angels have a 10-game road trip, starting on April 30, that takes them through Detroit, Boston and Seattle.
Cleveland Indians
Home/away: The Indians are home for 15 of their first 33 games.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 18 of their first 33.
Meat-grinder stuff: After an early six-game homestand against the Rangers and White Sox, the Indians hit the road for 10 straight games against Minnesota, Oakland and the Angels.
Boston Red Sox
Home/away: The Red Sox are home for 23 of their first 35 games.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 20 of the first 35.
Meat-grinder stuff: Not much. As part of a 10-game homestand, the Red Sox face the Angels and the Yankees in seven straight games.
Chicago White Sox
Home/away: The White Sox are home for 19 of their first 34 games.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 17 of 34.
Meat-grinder stuff: They don't really have anything that would qualify as meat-grinder stuff. The toughest stretch they have early in the season will be three games in Texas, followed by three games at Yankee Stadium.
Toronto Blue Jays
Home/away: 17 of their first 36 games.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 15 of the Jays' first 36 games.
Meat-grinder stuff: Once again, the Jays get an early-season break with the schedule: They play Tampa Bay only three times in the first six weeks, and incredibly, they don't see the division-rival Yankees until June 4.
Texas Rangers
Home/away: The Rangers are home for 20 of the first 35 games.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 16 of the first 35.
Meat-grinder stuff: In the middle of April, the Rangers have a nine-game stretch that will take them through Cleveland, New York and Boston.
Minnesota Twins
Home/away: 18 of the first 37 games are at home.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 16 of 37.
Meat-grinder stuff: The Twins open the season with seven straight road games, against the Angels and White Sox -- before opening Target Field on April 12. So it's not so bad.
Tampa Bay Rays
Home/away: 15 of the first 34.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 13 of the first 34.
Meat-grinder stuff: Last year, the Rays had a tough schedule to start the year, but this year, it's a much different situation. They get their fill early on of games against teams like Kansas City, Toronto and Baltimore. They do have a nine-game West Coast trip in early May.
Seattle Mariners
Home/away: 18 of the Mariners' first 39 games are at home.
Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 18 of 39.
Meat-grinder stuff: Overall, Seattle's early-season schedule is very soft, with one stretch of nine straight games against Texas, Tampa Bay and the Angels. The Mariners don't see the Yankees until June 29, and they don't play the Red Sox until July 22. Seattle's schedule in the second half looks like it could be really tough.

We'll hit the NL later this week.
Moves, deals and decisions

1. The Mariners are saving bullets for Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez, and the pitchers aren't thrilled about it.2. Julio Borbon is going to be thrown into the fire this year with the Rangers. I heard this from somebody within the Rangers' circle: "Tell your friends who play Fantasy baseball that they should take Borbon."
3. Bobby Cox is not going to change his approach this season, writes Steve Hummer.
4. Never mind about that whole Smoltz-for-U.S. Congress thing.
5. Chan Ho Park says he would have preferred to stay with the Phillies, writes Andy Martino.
6. Jake Peavy is all for the White Sox going after Adrian Gonzalez, writes Mark Gonzales. Two things on this: One, there is probably no way the White Sox can get Gonzalez without giving up Gordon Beckham, and two, I don't think they'll surrender him.
7. Derrek Lee wants to play his whole career with the Cubs, writes Paul Sullivan.
8. Alfonso Soriano will be placed in the No. 6 spot in Lou Piniella's lineup.
9. Oakland signed a couple of free agents, as Susan Slusser writes.
10. The Rockies are going to hide Ubaldo Jimenez from a division rival this spring.
11. A D-backs first baseman views the signing of Adam LaRoche as a blessing.
12. Brian Cashman wants the Yankees' young arms to develop quickly, writes Bill Madden.
13. Jerry Manuel is in search of set-up men, writes, writes Mike Puma.
Dings and dents

1. Brian Roberts took batting practice.2. J.C. Romero threw off a mound.
3. Bobby Jenks is behind schedule.
4. Jose Mijares got smoked by a line drive.
5. Dustin McGowan's long wait is over, writes Ken Fidlin.
6. Brandon Webb was encouraged by his latest bullpen session, writes Nick Piecoro.
Other stuff

• The Mariners might have unearthed a gem in their trade with the Tigers, writes Geoff Baker.• The Giants are still waiting for someone to grab the first-base job, writes Henry Schulman.
• The Pirates are excited about the progress of Brad Lincoln, writes Rob Biertempfel.
• Boston's ultimate advantage could be in its aces, writes Dan Shaughnessy.
• Kevin Correia is looking to build on his breakout season, writes Bill Center.
• The Jays' Chad Jenkins has lost some weight, writes Morgan Campbell.
• Some guys who played Little League together have reunited with the Orioles.
• Jason Hammel is penciled in to be the No. 5 starter for the Rockies, writes Troy Renck.
• Rafael Martin is the most improbable story of the Nationals' camp, writes Adam Kilgore.
• Denard Span is focusing on center field, writes La Velle Neal.
• Clayton Kershaw hung out with Sandy Koufax, writes Dylan Hernandez.
• The Rays can't explain their huge home-field advantage, writes John Romano.
• Howie Kendrick is hoping to stay healthy the whole season, writes Mike DiGiovanna.
• James Shields is working on holding runners, writes Roger Mooney.
• Jose Reyes talked about talking with the Mets.
• There is a strange generation gap developing in the Hall of Fame, writes Tim Kawakami.
• FYI, I've got some early-morning travel, so I couldn't get to all the links.
And today will be better than yesterday.

ozrob · 03-17-10, 12:25 AM

sucks being an oakland fan

PRC · 03-17-10, 03:32 AM

nice find

pinnerpsk · 03-17-10, 08:10 AM

Originally posted by ozrob

sucks being an oakland fan

Ya, I think the halos will win every game against these clowns in 2010

bradleysnyder · 03-17-10, 08:44 AM

dont agree.seattle will start messing up fast

pinnerpsk · 03-18-10, 12:07 PM

Ya another thing is that Seattle is everyone's trendy pick. Joe public will be all over them

EXhoosier10 · 03-18-10, 12:52 PM

Cubs open with a pretty easy schedule I believe

Willie Bee · 03-18-10, 03:37 PM

I've been preaching the importance of looking at the schedules, especially for futures bettors, for years now. Broke down some of the numbers in two articles earlier this spring: AL Schedules ... NL Schedules.

Stealinhome · 03-18-10, 06:37 PM

Looks good

onlooker · 03-18-10, 06:42 PM

ESPN and sharp, together. Usually don't see that.

Chugs · 03-18-10, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by onlòóker

ESPN and sharp, together. Usually don't see that.

Yeah surprisingly solid article.

Willie Bee · 03-19-10, 09:23 AM

Anyone recall those magical late runs in 2004 and 2005 by the Astros? In both seasons, Houston didn't see Philadelphia until after the All-Star break when the Astros were finally putting it together. I think '04 the two, three-game series weren't until mid-August and later, and in '05 the series were late-July, late-August.

Houston swept the Phillies 6-0 both seasons, essentially the difference between the Astros making the playoffs and the Phils sitting at home. In 2004, the gap between Houston-Philly was, you guessed it, six games. In 2005, it was just a one-game gap between the two teams.

EXhoosier10 · 03-20-10, 11:36 PM

Originally posted by Willie Bee

Anyone recall those magical late runs in 2004 and 2005 by the Astros? In both seasons, Houston didn't see Philadelphia until after the All-Star break when the Astros were finally putting it together. I think '04 the two, three-game series weren't until mid-August and later, and in '05 the series were late-July, late-August. Houston swept the Phillies 6-0 both seasons, essentially the difference between the Astros making the playoffs and the Phils sitting at home. In 2004, the gap between Houston-Philly was, you guessed it, six games. In 2005, it was just a one-game gap between the two teams.

Willie, I'm not sure what you're trying to point out by this? From what I've read from you, I'd think you're just pointing out an interesting tidbit? Both years, philly ended 10+ gms over .500, so you're not just pointing out that they dominated a bad team late in the season...

I would think that playing a playoff contender late in the year usually means, come August, you have less of a chance of making the playoffs... Obviously if you beat playoff contenders, you are more likely to belong in the playoffs... I cant seem to put this together.... Just an interesting fact?

Willie Bee · 03-21-10, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by EXhoosier10

Willie, I'm not sure what you're trying to point out by this? From what I've read from you, I'd think you're just pointing out an interesting tidbit? Both years, philly ended 10+ gms over .500, so you're not just pointing out that they dominated a bad team late in the season...

It's the old 'timing is everything,' EXhoosier. It's one thing when a team just gets hot at the time of season you happen to play them. But when the scheduling inconsistencies set that up for that to really affect the season's outcome, that's where I've had some problems with the whole way the MLB schedules are done.

Houston and Philly aren't division rivals, so if you want to pass those two seasons off as coincidence, I'll give you that.

But what about this season within a single division? I think most would agree the Cardinals and Cubs are the top two teams in the NL Central. But the schedule is very skewed in Chicago's favor between those two teams. Not only do the Cards have to play the Cubs nine times at Wrigley compared to six times at Busch, the Cubs don't even pay a visit to St. Louis until Aug 13-15.

nitty48 · 03-21-10, 09:45 AM

Seattle will have a good year overall

EXhoosier10 · 03-21-10, 10:15 AM

I gotcha Willie. As a Cubs fan, I enjoy seeing this kind of scheduling this year, but I woulnd't mind it being even from now on. The Cubs also play 4-2 H/A vs. Philly... I think we could see a playoff team if they can stay healthy and people produce a little closer to norm than expected.