MLB Division Leaders 2010

This time a year ago every division in baseball had a different leader. Now, not every team that was leading at this point went on to win the division but it proves that the MLB season is a marathon not a sprint.
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What surprises me the most? The NL West has the Pads in first when in ’09 it was LA. San Diego should hold onto their slugger Adrian Gonzales and closer Heath Bell to keep this dream alive.
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Then there’s the NL Central. The Cards are a favorite this year but a year ago it was Milwaukee that was running the show. The Red Birds would go on to get Mark DeRosa and Matt Holliday along with Julio Lugo to solidify the Central late in the season. This year the Reds need to make some moves if they wish to put themselves ahead of the Birds.
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The Braves lead the East because the ’09 team at this point is injured to hell. The Phillies are losing players left and right and now Chase Utley is out for who knows how long. I still think Philidelphia comes back to win the division.
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As for the American League, we were talking Angels last year. Now the Rangers are the best team in baseball. Don’t get too carried away. I’ll still stick with my Mariners pick but it’s looking bleak. They’ll probably trade Lee.
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The Yanks are in fist but Boston was last year. I’d like to see the Rays make a run but they need to get it in gear. Boston and New York are outplaying TB.
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Finally, that AL Central. The Twins are running the show now and I think they’ll win it easily. We were talking Sox and Tigers last year. Mauer and company has it together just like I thought.

My picks aren’t too bad right now. Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers. Yankees, Twins, Mariners. Wild Carders- Giants (get it going!) Red Sox.

Saint Diego

San Diego is winning the West. They have to be a big surprise to you. Their record, 22-12, is an outstanding ten above .500! What has got into them?
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You can talk basics, Adrian Gonzalez has a handful of homers and RBIs. They have that killer bullpen that every good teams yearns for. But the big surprises are the guys we have no idea who they are. Take Chase Headley. Last year he was a .260 outfielder at one point. Now he’s over .300 and plays third. Jon Garland is back to rare form with a low ones ERA and a 4-2 record. We know who he is I guess but I sure didn’t think he had a lot left in the tank.
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Who is Wade LeBlanc? Well he’s Allowed five earned runs in 28 innings. I do know who Clayton Richard is but I didn’t think he’s already have 40 plus innings pitched with an ERA of 3.21. Oh, and I guess Scott Hariston has six home runs this year too.

I don’t know how they are winning really because the team batting average is terrible. Nevertheless, Strike One!
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I saw a recent poll on Yahoo asking whether Lawrence Taylor should be stripped of his Hall of Fame status because of his recent predicament. Let’s debate.
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If he’s convicted, meaning if he did it, then I’m not so sure he shouldn’t have to return that gold jacket. You see, some things in sports are held to a high standard. When you are in that hall you are there because you did it and fore the most part did it the right way.

Yeah, there are some jackasses out there. Hotdogs, cocky young guns, and bitter old veterans all sometimes get in the Hall because of gaudy numbers. But are we saying cold hard criminals should too. If he raped this girl, which isn’t very debatable because of the age factor, than why does he get to keep his honors. I’m not in charge and I’d hate to be the one who is but I wouldn’t be too shocked if Mr. Goodell looks into this. STRIKE TWO!

I’m often told I never admit when I’m wrong. Well, that’s because I consider to be right about a lot of sports stuff. But for fun, I read through some old articles to see what I’ve been wrong about so far…
The Cavs won’t win in five or six games versus the Celtics.
The Seattle Mariners are struggling now in shape for an AL West title.
The Astros just swept the Cardinals.
Brandon Marshall will not be in Denver and in the same article Washington was not that tough in the tourney.
Willy Taveras has been ineffective.
Brian Giles didn’t have a good year, he retired instead.
And of course like every analyst, I thought the Colts would win it all.

Milton Bradley- Good Board Games, Bad Attitudes

Milton Bradley’s problem wasn’t Chicago (although we all knew it was a horrible fit. He’s up to his old antics after being pulled from a game yet again. Bradley decided to storm out of the stadium. Oh brother!
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I guess he is buying into the “stress-anxiety” disorder that’s been popping up around the MLB. I’ll tell you what, I’m going to take Milton’s side on this. He’s the type of guy that blows up when something goes against him. He has that intensity which can backfire. I know he has had his fair share or run-ins, but this guy got his ACL blown out by his first base coach.
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He needs to get it under control and after 12 seasons it’s a little ridiculous. Yet, Bradley is one of those athletes that lets the heat of the moment get to him and he starts to feel like everyone is out to get him. The media hates him and if he could go back to those little outbursts and change them I’m sure he would. But he can’t.

So I say cut the guy a little break. He’s admitting that he needs a little help with his stress and anger. Finally, maybe he can get it worked out. STRIKE ONE!

A couple of young guns in each baseball league have been hot hot hot. Austin Jackson has been on fire for the Tigers.
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He has the second highest batting average going into Thursday. A 369 batting avereage with a 421 OB%. He’s toasty. He isn’t a power hitter but he has nabbed five bases already this year. I’ve enjoyed his progress.
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Then there is the Cardinal David Freese. Nineteen RBIs and three homers in his first true month as a starter. The team anticipated a guy to fill a hole left by Mark DeRosa. La Russa was most likely hoping for a 270 type guy. He got a 360 one so far. Hats off to these two young players. STIKE TWO!

Tebows jersey is selling like a cold beer in hell right now. He was the number one jersey in April and everybody wants one. But here is the kicker. Is he really going to where number 15?
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Yep. Brandon Marshalls reign in Denver is over. But so is his number. Tim will take it right out of his hands and everyone with a MArshall leftover jersey is SOL. I guess that’s just the way it is. STRIKE THREE AND I’M OUT!

Panic Time in Boston?, NBA Picks, MLB Picks

Don’t freak out yet Fenway lovers. The team isn’t lost.
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I do think the Yanks might run away with this division but it isn’t completely over. Last year Ortiz struggled but came back after a couple horrific months and produced. It’s hard to look at what happened today though. A three game sweep, no wait, a four game sweep against the Rays. Not good.
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The Rays will be one of those teams competing for the fourth spot in the post season but it will fall short. AND once they lose Crawford after this year they’ll fall even further back. Losing Jason Bay was dumb. Yes, he isn’t flaming hot in New York but they are terrible. Look at the numbers when Bay’s season is over. I bet they are better than J.D. Drews. STRIKE ONE!

The NBA playoffs have started and it’s been interesting. I have no upsets in the East. Celtics and up all take it. Some of these series might be ugly too (Cleveland and Chicago…why watch?).
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In the West there might be some dicey games. I like the Lakers and Nuggets easily. And I know I’ve written earlier that an upset could be San Antonio to take over the Mavs but realistically I like Dallas. Finally, Portland won game one. If and ONLY if they can steal another on the road, they just might win. I’ve always had a thing for Nash but the Blazers came to play. It should be a fun series. STRIKE TWO!
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My much delayed MLB division winners are in. I’ll easily take the Yankees in the East and Boston behind them for the wild card. In the Central I’ll take the M&M sluggers of Mauer and Morneau. In the West lies my upset the Mariners. Pitching and defense will win them the title. However, I have the Yanks over….
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The Cardinals of the NL Central for the World Series final. They’ll win the Central with ease this season. The East will go to Philly who have an outstanding lineup. Don’t worry, the once pathetic West will bring two teams. The LA Dodgers (behind Kemp and Ramirez) will win the division over the wild card winning Giants and their two time reining Cy Young. STRIKE THREE AND I’M OUT!