Who’s in first?
AL East: Red Sox (12-7)
AL Central: White Sox (13-5)
AL West: Angels/Rangers (10-9)
NL East: Mets (12-6)
NL Central: Astros (13-5)
NL West: Giants/Rocks (10-8)
Who’s in last?
AL East: Devil Rays (8-11)
AL Central: Royals (4-13)
AL West: Mariners (7-13)
NL East: Marlins (5-11
NL Central: Pirates (5-15)
NL West: D-Backs (8-11)
Don’t look now: The Astros aren’t the only hot team going in the Lone Star State these days after the Rangers finally got things going this past week. Texas went 5-1 last week to surge from the AL West cellar into a tie for 1st-place in the division with the Angels, albeit with a 10-9 overall record.
Lefty John Karonka has come in and done a fine job to help pick up a beleaguered mound staff, including picking up wins on the road in Anaheim and Seattle before the week started. Michael Young (.941 OPS) and Hank Blalock (.969) are pacing the offense along with Phil Nevin’s pop. And it might be tough for catcher Rod Barajas to hold his catching job the way young Gerald Laird (.350 Avg, 8 Runs, 8 Games) has been going.
If they could add another solid arm either to the bullpen or --- Dare I say? --- Roger Clemens for the rotation, this could be a very dangerous team.
This week’s dogs: The Royals are once again deserving, the Yankees are still underachieving and the Diamondbacks are on a slide in the AL West. But this year’s dogs continue to be the Pirates for my money. They weren’t supposed to be killer, but they were supposed to be better than they’re showing.
Then again, the Reds appear to be overachieving. So, in tribute to an old Jerry Seinfeld show, things have a way of evening out. Pittsburgh dropped their 4th-straight on the week Sunday in Houston to compound the 0-6 record they started their 5-15 season with.
One interesting note here to watch for starts with the Pirates playing 16 of their first 20 against NLC rivals who beat up on ‘em pretty good like. If the Pirates start to even out a bit, it stands to reason they might do so against foes from the NL East and West Divisions. Pittsburgh’s ability to beat the NLE/NLW could play a hand in giving the NL Central the wild card for the fourth time in the last six seasons.
Injury News: First, the good news. Coming off the DL this week were Todd Jones (DET), Mike Cameron (SDP), Kaz Matsui (NYM)
Now, the bad news. Going on the DL were Ryan Doumit (PIT-hammy, retro to Apr 12), Angel Pagan (CHC-), Jeremy Hermida (FLA-hip), Carlos Martinez (FLA-elbow), Derrek Lee (CHC-wrist), Ken Griffey Jr (CIN-knee), Eric Milton (CIN-knee surgery), David Newhan (BAL-broken right leg), Bartolo Colon (LAA-right shoulder), Juan Rivera (LAA-rib), Trever Miller (HOU-elbow), David DeJesus (KAN-), Rafael Betancourt (CLE-back strain), Todd Helton (COL-flu) and AJ Burnett (TOR-elbow).
San Francisco 2B Ray Durham might miss a lot of action this week after pulling up with a strained left hamstring … Oakland was without closer Huston Street as the week came to a close after last year’s AL ROY suffered a chest muscle strain. He could miss more time the week … San Diego starter Chris Young will see a specialist this week about a thumb injury he compared to his thumb being frozen … The Braves should get good news this week with the return of 3B Chipper Jones (knee).
Fantasy Studs & Duds: A dud entering the week with a .209 average, Craig Biggio exploded this week with 16 hits that concluded with a 4-hit gem on Sunday. The Astros 2B also had four, 3-hit games and twice opened games with a long ball giving him 46 all-time, a distant second all-time to Rickey Henderson.
Allow me to gloat on my Astros once again with mention of Morgan Ensberg who swatted 6 HR on the week to give him nine on the year to go with a .403 average. In any other week, he’d be NL POY. But Biggio’s .615 average is likely to push Ensberg out this time … Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia are not off to good starts for the White Sox, and that makes the Pale Hose all the more dangerous considering their 13-5 start. Jose Contreras (3-0, 1.55) and an offense fired by Jim Thome (.327, 9 HR) have Chicago on a tear … Speaking of Chicago, Cubs righty Greg Maddux is off to one of his best starts yet with a 4-0 record and 0.99 ERA through his first four starts. The bad news this week was the Northsiders’ loss of 1B Derrek Lee to the DL … Red Sox lovers who might have kept Jason Varitek are probably bemoaning the decision right now with his slow start. But those who have Curt Schilling, Josh Becket and Jonathan Papelbon are smiling ear-to-ear.
Quote(s) of the Week: “I'm not ashamed of what I've done. I'm pleased.” --- Giants outfielder Barry Bonds on his major league career so far.
“I won't say that women belong in the kitchen, but they don't belong in the dugout.” --- Mets broadcaster and former player Keith Hernandez noting the presence of a female in the Padres dugout over the weekend. Hernandez laughed and said he was just teasing right after making that comment, but it’s stirred up a media-generated controversy nonetheless.
On Deck: The three biggest series in the first part of the week find the Mets at the Giants (Mon-Wed), the A’s at the Rangers (Mon-Wed) and the Red Sox at the Indians (Tue-Thu). Weekend series with critical implications as April comes to a close include the Astros at the Reds, White Sox at the Angels and Mets at the Braves.
If you’re looking for the best pitching matchups this week, they don’t get any better, at least on paper, than a pair of Friday night contests. Toronto’s Roy Halladay faces New York’s Randy Johnson in the Bronx that evening while Pedro Martinez starts for the Mets in Atlanta opposite John Smoltz for the Braves.
AL East: Red Sox (12-7)
AL Central: White Sox (13-5)
AL West: Angels/Rangers (10-9)
NL East: Mets (12-6)
NL Central: Astros (13-5)
NL West: Giants/Rocks (10-8)
Who’s in last?
AL East: Devil Rays (8-11)
AL Central: Royals (4-13)
AL West: Mariners (7-13)
NL East: Marlins (5-11
NL Central: Pirates (5-15)
NL West: D-Backs (8-11)
Don’t look now: The Astros aren’t the only hot team going in the Lone Star State these days after the Rangers finally got things going this past week. Texas went 5-1 last week to surge from the AL West cellar into a tie for 1st-place in the division with the Angels, albeit with a 10-9 overall record.
Lefty John Karonka has come in and done a fine job to help pick up a beleaguered mound staff, including picking up wins on the road in Anaheim and Seattle before the week started. Michael Young (.941 OPS) and Hank Blalock (.969) are pacing the offense along with Phil Nevin’s pop. And it might be tough for catcher Rod Barajas to hold his catching job the way young Gerald Laird (.350 Avg, 8 Runs, 8 Games) has been going.
If they could add another solid arm either to the bullpen or --- Dare I say? --- Roger Clemens for the rotation, this could be a very dangerous team.
This week’s dogs: The Royals are once again deserving, the Yankees are still underachieving and the Diamondbacks are on a slide in the AL West. But this year’s dogs continue to be the Pirates for my money. They weren’t supposed to be killer, but they were supposed to be better than they’re showing.
Then again, the Reds appear to be overachieving. So, in tribute to an old Jerry Seinfeld show, things have a way of evening out. Pittsburgh dropped their 4th-straight on the week Sunday in Houston to compound the 0-6 record they started their 5-15 season with.
One interesting note here to watch for starts with the Pirates playing 16 of their first 20 against NLC rivals who beat up on ‘em pretty good like. If the Pirates start to even out a bit, it stands to reason they might do so against foes from the NL East and West Divisions. Pittsburgh’s ability to beat the NLE/NLW could play a hand in giving the NL Central the wild card for the fourth time in the last six seasons.
Injury News: First, the good news. Coming off the DL this week were Todd Jones (DET), Mike Cameron (SDP), Kaz Matsui (NYM)
Now, the bad news. Going on the DL were Ryan Doumit (PIT-hammy, retro to Apr 12), Angel Pagan (CHC-), Jeremy Hermida (FLA-hip), Carlos Martinez (FLA-elbow), Derrek Lee (CHC-wrist), Ken Griffey Jr (CIN-knee), Eric Milton (CIN-knee surgery), David Newhan (BAL-broken right leg), Bartolo Colon (LAA-right shoulder), Juan Rivera (LAA-rib), Trever Miller (HOU-elbow), David DeJesus (KAN-), Rafael Betancourt (CLE-back strain), Todd Helton (COL-flu) and AJ Burnett (TOR-elbow).
San Francisco 2B Ray Durham might miss a lot of action this week after pulling up with a strained left hamstring … Oakland was without closer Huston Street as the week came to a close after last year’s AL ROY suffered a chest muscle strain. He could miss more time the week … San Diego starter Chris Young will see a specialist this week about a thumb injury he compared to his thumb being frozen … The Braves should get good news this week with the return of 3B Chipper Jones (knee).
Fantasy Studs & Duds: A dud entering the week with a .209 average, Craig Biggio exploded this week with 16 hits that concluded with a 4-hit gem on Sunday. The Astros 2B also had four, 3-hit games and twice opened games with a long ball giving him 46 all-time, a distant second all-time to Rickey Henderson.
Allow me to gloat on my Astros once again with mention of Morgan Ensberg who swatted 6 HR on the week to give him nine on the year to go with a .403 average. In any other week, he’d be NL POY. But Biggio’s .615 average is likely to push Ensberg out this time … Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia are not off to good starts for the White Sox, and that makes the Pale Hose all the more dangerous considering their 13-5 start. Jose Contreras (3-0, 1.55) and an offense fired by Jim Thome (.327, 9 HR) have Chicago on a tear … Speaking of Chicago, Cubs righty Greg Maddux is off to one of his best starts yet with a 4-0 record and 0.99 ERA through his first four starts. The bad news this week was the Northsiders’ loss of 1B Derrek Lee to the DL … Red Sox lovers who might have kept Jason Varitek are probably bemoaning the decision right now with his slow start. But those who have Curt Schilling, Josh Becket and Jonathan Papelbon are smiling ear-to-ear.
Quote(s) of the Week: “I'm not ashamed of what I've done. I'm pleased.” --- Giants outfielder Barry Bonds on his major league career so far.
“I won't say that women belong in the kitchen, but they don't belong in the dugout.” --- Mets broadcaster and former player Keith Hernandez noting the presence of a female in the Padres dugout over the weekend. Hernandez laughed and said he was just teasing right after making that comment, but it’s stirred up a media-generated controversy nonetheless.
On Deck: The three biggest series in the first part of the week find the Mets at the Giants (Mon-Wed), the A’s at the Rangers (Mon-Wed) and the Red Sox at the Indians (Tue-Thu). Weekend series with critical implications as April comes to a close include the Astros at the Reds, White Sox at the Angels and Mets at the Braves.
If you’re looking for the best pitching matchups this week, they don’t get any better, at least on paper, than a pair of Friday night contests. Toronto’s Roy Halladay faces New York’s Randy Johnson in the Bronx that evening while Pedro Martinez starts for the Mets in Atlanta opposite John Smoltz for the Braves.
Since nothing was mentioned about his foot growing a half-size recently, I thought that was a pretty weird situation for a 28-yr-old athlete to need a doctor's or trainer's diagnosis for.
