Well, time to chat with the good folks at “The Locker Room with Kevin Williams” on Fox Sports Radio 1310AM and 1160 WOBM-AM. Some topics under consideration will include…

(1) Are the Florida teams for real?

(2) Yankees/Mets … hopeful or hopeless?

(3) Jamie Moyer–life begins at 30.

(4) Is there any significance to Memorial Day weekend as a key part of the season?

(5) The Washington Nationals–have they been possessed by the spirits of Jeffrey Loria and David Samson?

(1) Are the Florida teams for real?

I do think the Rays are the genuine article. This is a well-balanced roster–they’re hitting .260/.327/.396 (101 OPS+) and are seventh in the AL in runs scored with 212 and Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford and Jonny Gomes haven’t really shown up yet. Dioner Navarro has bounced around so much in his career already that folks forget how young he is and his minor league totals suggest that he may simply be coming into his own as a hitter. As a club they’re getting solid situational hitting and indications are that they really haven’t started to click offensively yet.

The rotation, which was already doing well this year (4.02 ERA) has gotten back Scott Kazmir and he’s picking up where he left off last year and has a 1.57 ERA despite facing the Red Sox, Yankees, A‘s and Angels. Best of all, nobody is older than 26 years old. The bullpen (3.41 ERA) is an experienced one and nobody is having a major outlier of a season. The addition of Jason Bartlett has stabilized the infield defense and they can afford to carry his stick to keep his glove out on the field. It’s a team without an outstanding weakness that is strong in almost every category (except stolen bases–69% success ratio).

The Marlins I’m still not sold on but their sweep of the Diamondbacks has given me pause. Their starting pitching–which was among the worst in the NL–in starting to show signs of life. In their sweep of the Snakes the starters posted a 0.95 ERA in 19 IP walking four and whiffing 23. It’s a young, talented–but very raw group of starters and if they find their range … look out. Their bullpen has a solid ERA despite the number of base runners allowed and they’ve got a lot of pop in that lineup. The infield defense with Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla is a concern but few middle infields provide that kind of production. 

(2) Yankees/Mets … hopeful or hopeless?

Well, I said on the Mike Gill Show on Wednesday that I think the Yankees are poised to go on a tear. They scuffled in the early going in both 2005 and 2007 only to win at least 94 games. The bullpen is fine, their top three starters are doing the job, Ian Kennedy is showing signs of life and adding Joba Chamberlain won’t hurt if he’s handled correctly. The biggest problem with the Yankees is their poor situational hitting (.239/.323/.366 with RISP) with Robbie Cano, Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui and Alex Rodriguez being the biggest culprits. Their history suggests that they’ll turn that around.

The only real concern the Yankees have is that the AL East is going to be a brutally tough division–especially if the Blue Jays start to get anything resembling a consistent offense.

Right now, either the New York media or Mets fans need to get a grip. Even after being swept by the Braves they’re one game below .500 and 4.5 games out of first. They have to remember that the Braves/Marlins/Phillies are going to be stomping each other over the remainder of the season. If the Fish are indeed for real the top four spots in the East are going to fluctuate all season long. Let’s take an objective view of the Mets: They have, right now, three serviceable starters and the rotation is fifth best in the NL, second best in the division behind Atlanta.

The bullpen walks less than the league average (among relievers) and after a shaky start, Aaron Heilman has a 2.93 ERA striking out 17, walking five in his last 15.1 IP. Pedro Feliciano, Joe Smith and Scott Schoeneweis have an aggregate ERA of 2.63 and Billy Wagner has yet to give up a run–this is a solid bullpen. Yeah, the lineup has a couple of issues but they’re at positions where you can look for a bat without having to worry too much about defense (first base and left field). However, the team hits as well with RISP as they do normally. Let’s face it–if Omar Minaya grew a pair and signed Barry Bonds the offense would improve immeasurably–even if Bonds “only” hit .260/.420/.500.

Regardless, other bats will come available as the season wears on and only a massive choke job will prevent the Mets from staying in it long enough to upgrade the lineup. Don’t forget, the Mets have scored five or more runs 20 times and 0-2 twelve times–it can put runs on the board and good pitching can shut it down. Another bat will help (or Carlos Delgado waking up). The talent is here, this is a contender but Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph have to keep their wits about them and remember this fact. By all means, pick up another bat but don’t let a sweep by a good team cause a panic–it happens over 162 games.        

(3) Jamie Moyer–life begins at 30.

Well, I covered this off in this week’s Pujols Awards and you’re a click away from reading my jaw-dropping amazement at a guy who couldn’t even find a job in 1992 despite throwing left-handed. Do you have any idea how bad you have to be to be a southpaw and not find any takers? He found one in 1993 and 200 wins later he’s now in select company.

(4) Is there any significance to Memorial Day weekend as a key part of the season?

Remember the 2007 Mets and Rockies? Nuff said–unless you’ve gotten off to a start like the 1988 Baltimore Orioles (0-21) there’s still well over 100 games to play.

(5) The Washington Nationals–have they been possessed by the spirits of Jeffrey Loria and David Samson?

Well … I think any region thinking of getting into bed with any part of the MLB cartel to fund a stadium really should take note of what is happening in D.C. As I stated at THT–these people are nymphomaniac fiscal succubi . They are literally evil, all they care about is getting more from those who have less. These people are immoral, greedy, selfish people with nary a shred of conscience. Many wonder why I generally side with players in management/player disputes–well here is a big reason. Ballplayers devote their entire youth to developing their skills with zero guarantee of success.

Once they sign a contract, the club holding their rights will do everything in their power to delay the arrival of arbitration and free agency rights. Often it takes anywhere from 10-15 years of enduring bus rides, injuries, slumps, options down to the minors, acrimonious arbitration hearings until that day when it’s time to collect their rewards.

That day finally arrives, and these soulless, mercenaries who–while already among the wealthiest men in the country, who cheerfully and gleefully demand money that should be spent on the care and education of our young, the support of the weak and elderly and protecting the population at large so they can become still wealthier without lifting a finger … They have the unmitigated gall to imply that the player–the guy who spent 10-15 hard years to reach this point–one of a very small minority who do so, is greedy for being unwilling to subsidize (thereby giving more free money to these epitomes of avarice) people who suck the lifeblood out of the common man like maggots feasting on a putrefying corpse.

I laugh when I hear fans lament about greedy players. The players are freaking Mother Theresa in comparison to owners. The only time they have any use to humanity is that day when they will create work for the death care industry. Sadly, their corpses will saponify rather than decompose because maggots are not inherently cannibalistic.

Best Regards

John   

The Atlanta Braves today extended manager Bobby Cox through the 2009 season. So now the whole is he going to retire or not can be put to bed, at least for now.

Quoth Braves GM Frank Wren:

“Bobby and I have been talking about this for several months,” Braves
Executive Vice President and General Manager Frank Wren said. “We are
excited that Bobby, the winningest manager in franchise history, and
one of the most respected managers in all of baseball, will again be
managing our club in 2009.”

This is Bobby's 23rd year at the helm of the Braves and his 27th managing in the majors. He has collected 2,281 wins to his credit, which puts him fourth on the all time wins list.

….With all the young talent being locked up to huge deals lately (Ryan Braun and Hanley Ramirez say hi!), it seems that the Texas Rangers are looking to lock up Josh Hamilton. They've started to explore this, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

…The Instant Replay debate has heated up in recent days. Rob Dibble and Kevin Kennedy had MLB Executive VP  Jimmie Lee Solomon on their XM show, and stated that it could impact the pace of the game and might be used during the Arizona Fall League.

…It looks like Jim Edmonds is working his way into Lou Piniella's dog house, this according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. I mean, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that Edmonds is toast..

…DBacks pitcher Doug Davis who has been battling thyroid cancer was activated yesterday by Arizona and is back in the rotation. He's starting tonight against the Braves at Turner Field. With the move the Snakes designated pitcher Brandon Medders for assignment.

…According to a report on ESPN.com the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will host the 2010 mid-summer classic.

Here are some players to watch and what to watch for this weekend:

Chone Figgins, Los Angeles Angels at Chicago White Sox (5/23-25)

Figgins returned from the disabled list on Wednesday and went 1-for-3 with a walk in a run scored in their 4-3 win over the Blue Jays.  He then sat out Thursday's game after feeling soreness in his hamstring and the Angels lost.  Figgins' impact can be seen in the Angels record, they are 20-13 with Figgins in the lineup and 8-8 without him.  The Angels are counting on him to bounce back and be in the lineup this weekend.

Omar Vizquel, San Francisco Giants at Florida Marlins (5/23-5/25)

Vizquel has an impressive resume: 11 Gold Gloves, most double plays as a shortstop (1,660), highest lifetime fielding percentage (.984) for shortstops with at least 1,000 games played and he's the active hits leader with the seventh most hits by a switch-hitter all-time.  This weekend, if Vizquel plays all three games of the series with the Marlins, he will surpass Luis Aparicio for most games at shortstop.  Currently, Vizquel is at 2,581 and Aparicio is at 2,583.

Ken Griffey Jr., Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Padres (5/23-5/25)

Junior Griffey gave a preview of what could happen this weekend as he blasted #598 in the first game of the four-game series at PETCO Park.  Now, he's just two away from 600 and May 23-25 have been very, very good to Griff.  19 of his 598 homers have come on those days including two of his 55 multiple home run games which have come on May 24th.  He's also homered off of two of the three scheduled starters - Wilfredo Ledezma and Greg Maddux.  At least Padres fans will have something to watch for this weekend, even if it is the opposing team.

Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox at Oakland Athletics (5/23-5/25)

Ramirez is two away from 600 and playing against a team that he has victimized 39 times.  Like Griffey, Ramirez also has reached the half-century mark in multiple home run games.  If Ramirez plays all three games of the series he will hit 2,000 games played which is a nice, round number.

Elijah Dukes, Washington Nationals vs. Milwaukee Brewers (5/23-5/25)

His performance on Wednesday drew the ire of manager Manny Acta so there's a chance Dukes might not get a chance to improve his season average from .067.  Dukes got his second hit of the season but struck out twice with men on first and third and hit into a double play.  If Dukes doesn't play, you can always watch Teddy Roosevelt during the President's Race, he's still 0-for-forever.  No word on whether the racing sausages will be joining in on the action.

Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants at Florida Marlins (Friday 5/23)

It's hard to believe Zito once won a Cy Young Award (way back in 2002).  Now, he's 0-8 with a 6.25 ERA in 9 starts and hasn't made it past the sixth inning.  Zito has beaten the Marlins before, he's 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in 2 starts but the Marlins have won three in a row and are in first place in the NL East.  Things could be worse, he could be Terry Felton.  Felton pitched for the Twins from 1979-1982 and ended his career 0-16.  He did notch 3 saves, though.

Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox at Oakland Athletics (Sunday 5/25)

Johnny Vander Meer's ghost will be in attendance as Lester goes for back-to-back no hitters.  Vander Meer is the only major leaguer to ever pitch back-to-back no hitters which happened almost 70 years ago on June 11 and 15, 1938.  Lester has beaten cancer and avoided being traded thrice by the Red Sox so it wouldn't be recommended to bet against him.

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies at Houston Astros (Sunday 5/25)

Hamels is one of the hottest starting pitchers in baseball and has pitched 19 consecutive scoreless innings.  The Phillies have won his last 5 starts and he is 3-0 in the stretch.  In his career, he has faced the Astros four times and is 3-0 with a 3.14 ERA and is 7-1 in May.  He's also 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA at Minute Maid Park.  It's early in Hamels' career so the milestones aren't that spectacular - his next win will be his 30th.  A cautionary note: Zito won 23 games and a Cy Young at 24 and look what he's going through today.

Billy Wagner, New York Mets at Colorado Rockies (5/23-5/25)

The Mets were just swept in a four-game series by their division rival, the Atlanta Braves.  Wagner is just one save away from passing Jeff Reardon for sole possession of sixth place on the all-time saves list.  He's also one blown save away from a blow-up worthy of New York media attention which he's had more of this season (3) than earned runs given up (0) in 17 appearances this season.  Through 18 innings, Wagner has struck out 20 and has a microscopic 0.83 WHIP.  Either way, something special will happen if Wagner gets a save opportunity.

Those of you who are interested in hitting might be interested in an analysis of Ken Griffey Jr.'s swing that I recently put together for the Cincinnati Enquirer to mark Junior's 600th home run. 

Ken Griffey Jr.'s swing is a little different than most Major League swings. For example, he starts out more erect, reverse-rotates his shoulders more, and takes a bigger stride than most Major League hitters. However, where it counts Ken Griffey Jr.'s swing resembles the swings of other great power hitters like Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, and David Ortiz.

What's more, Ken Griffey Jr.'s swing proves that good hitters do not do the things that many hitting instructors teach. Junior does not swing level to the ground, Junior does not squish the bug, and Junior does not extend and make the Power V at the point of contact.

I wish I had this information when I was a young baseball player.

The American League ‘Bloggers
Vote’ Awards for week 7 have been published over at Baseball Happenings. As
a reminder from the National League recap, the awards are based on the philosophy
of if the season ended today. Keep in mind today
was up until, but not including, May 19^th.

Here is how I voted:

AL
MVP

Kevin
Youkilis
Josh
Hamilton
Cliff
Lee

Youkilis is having the best season in the American League. He
is raking for a winning team and doing so with little to no attention. Youk is
currently first in Win Shares Above Bench (WSAB) and second in Value Over
Replacement Player (VORP). In addition to being a key contributor for the
American Leagues best team, Youk is
again providing outstanding defensive play, where he leads all first basemen in
defensive win shares.

Josh Hamilton is having an outstanding season in his own
right. He is legitimately a contender for the triple crown and has shown little
signs of slowing down. Additionally, outside of his RBI’s, his statistics are
legit (although the weekly MVP voter in my does not care about legitimacy). However,
Hamilton does
not provide the defensive play, the on base percentage or the ‘clutch’ factor
that Youkilis brings. The fact that Hamilton
was the blogger’s winner by a substantial amount is not surprising, nor is really
a bad thing. How good would Hamilton
be if he hadn’t gotten himself in the trouble he did? And what about the Rays?

What is a bad thing and what is surprising is how few votes
and how little respect Cliff Lee received. Sitting with an identical WSAB as
Youkilis and Hamilton, Lee is far and away the best pitcher in the American
League. Could anyone imagine ignoring his statistics at the end of 2008 if he
was sitting with an ERA under 1.50 while winning around 24 games?

AL Cy Young

Cliff Lee
Zach
Greinke
Joakim
Soria

As mentioned, Lee has far and away been the best pitcher in
the American League, in fact, there is very little overall competition for this
given how well Lee has been pitching. What is most disturbing is that one voter
actually left Lee off his list altogether. This, however, is not nearly as
devastating as the fact that this same voter decided on C.C.
Sabathia over Lee.

Greinke has had an incredible turnaround for his career and
is definitely one of the most impressive baseball stories in recent years. I
remember being impressed with Greinke out of the bullpen last season, and he
has definitely carried that success over to the rotation. The issue with
Greinke is that his stats are far from sustainable and he does not possess the typical Cy Young stats (ie wins and
strikeouts).

Greinke’s teammate Joakim Soria is absolutely dominating the
American League and has been absolutely unhittable. The biggest thing holding
Soria back however, is the fact that he plays for the Royals and will struggle
to lead the league in saves. If I could have this vote again, I may have picked
Roy
Halladay instead.

AL ROY

Jacoby
Ellsbury
Aaron
Laffey
Ben
Francisco

Ellsbury is a one man show among American League rookies to
this point. His plate discipline and walk rate are remarkable for a player of
his age and experience. What is also remarkable is that there are voters who
figured that a rookie on pace for 60 steals is not worthy of winning this
award.

Aaron Laffey is tied for the lead in VORP among American
League rookie pitchers. Apparently doing that only merits 3 of a possible 27
votes. Let us also consider that the pitcher Laffey is tied with has an extra 4
starts under his belt. At this point, Laffey is pretty much the only one who is
poised to challenge Ellsbury for this award.

Ben Francisco makes the list because he plays for the Tribe.
He hasn’t done a whole lot to deserve this placement on the list and was
deservedly left off of everyone else’s list. He is however, sitting at only 40%
of David
Murphy’s VORP despite collecting about 25% of the at bats.
 

In an interesting week of voting I find it surprising the
players that are included at times and the players who are left off. The
problem with doing that is this is not an ‘I told you so’ vote, any predictions
made part way through the season is the equivalent of bandwagon jumping.

As always, feel free to leave comments and questions, as
well as your own personal opinion of whom you would have voted for.

Matt Macri has been called up to replace Adam Everett.
(dbullsfan/flickr)
Arizona    

Doug Davis - Missed 39 games (thyroid).
Brandon Medders - Designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
    
Boston    

J.D. Drew - Missed 1 game (knee injury).
    
Detroit    

Dontrelle Willis - Missed 36 games (right knee injury).
    
Florida

Robert Andino - Optioned to Albuquerque (AAA).
    
Los Angeles Anaheim    

Chone Figgins - Leg injury, day-to-day.
Joe Saunders - Flu, day-to-day.
Matthew Brown - Optioned to Salt Lake (AAA).
Brandon Wood - Recalled from Salt Lake (AAA).
    
Minnesota    

Matt Macri - Recalled from Rochester (AAA).
Adam Everett - Right shoulder injury, 15-day DL.
    
NY Mets    

Ryan Church - Missed 1 game (concussion).
Moises Alou - Calf injury, 15-day DL.
Raul Casanova - Contract purchased from New Orleans (AAA).
    
NY Yankees    

Chien-Ming Wang - Calf injury, day-to-day.
Jeff Karstens - Missed 46 games (groin) and optioned Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA).
LaTroy Hawkins - Suspended by MLB for 3 games.
    
Oakland    

Chris Denorfia - Missed 13 games (back injury) and optioned to Sacramento (AAA).
    
San Diego    

Jared Wells - Recalled from Portland (AAA).
Josh Banks - Recalled from Portland (AAA).
Colt Morton - Recalled from San Antonio (AA).
Justin Germano - Designated for assignment by the San Diego Padres.
Joe Thatcher - Optioned to Portland (AAA).
Chris Young - Fractured nose, day-to-day.
Josh Bard - Ankle injury, 15-day DL.
Mike Adams - Contract purchased from Portland (AAA).
    
Seattle    

Cha Seung Baek     Designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners.
R.A. Dickey - Recalled from Tacoma (AAA).
    
Texas    

Frank Catalanotto - Back injury, day-to-day.
    
Toronto    

Kevin Mench - Missed 4 games (bruised right knee).
    
Washington    

Austin Kearns - Right elbow injury, 15-day DL.

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