04/10/2013

Explore the Score – April 10

Tampa Bay Rays (3-5) vs. Texas Rangers (6-2)
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, 2:05 P.M.
Matt Moore (1-0, 0.00) vs. Derek Holland (0-0, 2.57)

If you haven’t paid any attention to this three game series yet then boy have you been missing out. Not only has it been entertaining and controversial; it’s been historic as well. Monday’s game saw a spirited Rays rally late in the game be disrupted by a blown strike call by home plate umpire Marty Foster that prematurely ended the game. On a Joe Nathan curveball down and away, Foster inexplicably rung up Ben Zobrist. Although the call did not sit well with Joe Maddon, Nathan walked away with career save number three-hundred and the Rangers gladly took the win. Then there was game two where Rangers rookie Nick Tepesch twirled a gem in his Major League debut. Going 7 1/3 innings allowing only one run, Tepesch featured a promising sinker that netted him fourteen groundouts out of fifteen contact outs. Now let me guess, you’re probably pretty bummed that you missed all of this now, aren’t you? Fear not! Today’s game boasts one of the most fascinating battles of promising left-handed pitchers that you could imagine. Aren’t you glad I’m here to point these things out to you?

Just a few days ago I went into detail on the Rays offense and not surprisingly my opinion hasn’t changed a bit since then. The Rays have so much potential to do damage against any team but they’re just way too prone to making poor contact. So far this year the Rays are ranked 24th out of 30 teams in batting average, three spots up from where they were at the end of last season. Better, but still not good by any means. If the Rays are going to be the playoff contender that they’ve been in years past, they need to get better than this as soon as possible. Whether it’s a trade before the deadline or the long-awaited call up of Wil Myers, one hitter could make all the difference in this lineup. It’s honestly that simple. The Rays biggest issue is their lack of protection for superstar Evan Longoria in the number five spot. Who, as a pitcher, would you rather face – Longoria or James Loney? Or Matt Joyce? Maybe even Shelley Duncan? Look at the career numbers, none of these other options really sound appealing, huh?

Derek Holland (Louis DeLuca / Dallas News)

And if you think either of those names is going to rattle Derek Holland today then you are incredibly mistaken. Just the second left-handed starter that the Rays will face this season, Holland represents the type of pitcher that takes advantage of holes in lineups. Proving to be victimized by big innings in his short career, Holland is often his own worst enemy. But if there’s nobody in the bottom of the lineup who can force him beat himself then what chance do the Rays stand? Sure, Desmond Jennings, Zobrist or Longoria can get on base all they want but it really doesn’t count for anything unless there’s somebody to drive them in. As inconsistent as Holland has been in his career, he’s still a good pitcher and good pitchers don’t often give in to poor hitters. Combine this concept with Holland’s great stuff and the strong spring he had and you have to think this match-up may not bode well for the Rays. Unless Holland completely implodes, which he is also prone to doing, I can’t imagine the Rays offense will be able to keep consistent pressure on the southpaw. At any moment a talented prospect can finally click and put everything together and after two full years in the Rangers rotation, Holland seems poised for a breakout season. Don’t expect teams like the Rays to stand in his way.

Matt Moore (CBS Sports)

Now onto the Rangers, who I once again find myself writing about as a team to watch. Big shocker, right? Obviously when you have a young team stacked with great players playing in baseball’s friendliest hitting park it’s hard not to be sucked into the good thing they’ve got going on in Texas. It may be a football state but baseball is alive and kicking down there. And so is the Rangers offense. In contrast to the Rays, the Rangers are ranked seventh in batting average to start the season. And where’s they rank last year? Number three, .001 points behind the league-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Colorado Rockies. Like I’ve mentioned before, there is nothing to worry about with this offense except the starters they may face. And I think this one does a good job to warrant worry.

If you haven’t noticed by now, Matt Moore is good. Really good. It showed in his first postseason start where he allowed only two hits in shutting out the Rangers for seven innings. It showed toward the end of last year where he put together an ERA of 3.72 from June onward. And it showed in his first start of the season where he made a strong Cleveland lineup look silly. Although his rookie year didn’t meet the massive expectations hung above it, Moore has done enough to strike fear in the hearts of many offenses across the league, the Rangers included. You can ask Texas, they’ll tell you how tough he was in the 2011 ALDS. In just his second Major League start he dominated Texas. Now in his second Major League season expect him to do it all over again. On the fast track to becoming one of the best left-handed starters in the game, Moore possesses filthy stuff that, combined with experience, make him a number four starter with number one potential. Just like Holland, Moore is a serious breakout candidate this year, albeit with a much higher ceiling. As he continues to put things together, look out rest of the league and look out David Price. The Rays may have a new ace in town.

Player to Watch – Rangers SS Elvis Andrus

Elvis Andrus (Tony Dejak / Associated Press)

Getting to good pitchers is all about getting inside their heads and that’s what table-setter Elvis Andrus’ job is every night. With blazing speed at the top of the lineup, Andrus is a surefire bet to distract Moore if he can get on base. This doesn’t mean that he needs to steal second and third every chance he gets, it just means that he needs to make sure Moore knows that he can do that at will. As with just about every pitcher in the game, letting them get into a groove is exactly how an offense digs an inescapable hole for themselves. If the Rangers stand any chance of avoiding this hole, it starts with Andrus and breaking Moore’s focus as the big hitters come to the plate.

Player to Drop – Rays UTIL Ben Zobrist

Although he’s been playing the majority of his innings at second so far this season, it’s impossible not to describe Ben Zobrist as the ultimate utility player. Capable of playing every position beside catcher in addition to performing at an All-Star level, Zobrist is among the most valuable players in the game. Off to a hot start this year, Zobrist seems like a risky bet to struggle tonight. However, I can’t help but think that Monday’s blown call is stuck in the back of Zobrist’s head. In four at-bats last night, Zobrist made weak contact four times which is atypical for a line drive hitter like him. As much as it sucks to be the victim of a bad call, especially when your team is off to a slow start, Zobrist needs to focus on being a strong, top of the order hitter. With so many other things possibly going through his head, I can’t imagine that focusing will be easy for Zobrist until he gets a well needed day off tomorrow.

04/08/2013

Explore the Score – April 8

New York Mets (4-2) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2-4)
Citizens Bank Park, 7:05 P.M.
Matt Harvey (1-0, 0.00) vs. Roy Halladay (0-1, 13.50)

If you followed this blog throughout the spring then you probably already know that I took the time to feature both these pitchers in previous posts. However, it’s the regular season and it’s a whole new ball game so it’s worth taking a look at both of these guys again and the teams they play for, especially with the context of their first starts in mind.

The Mets are off to a strong start this year, winning their first two series while having one of the top offenses in the game. No, I’m not lying right now. One of the teams to make the fewest moves at the Major League level this off-season, the Mets have proven that they’re still one of the best when it comes to putting up a fight. The past four years have seen the Mets not come close to making the playoffs, a big difference from the way they were playing at the beginning of the millennium. Like most big market teams, bad contracts caught up to them over the years, a situation further complicated by owner Fred Wilpon being involved in Bernie Madoff’s financial schemes. It’s a franchise where the only consistent thing at this point is third baseman David Wright, yet every year New York is a factor up until the end of the season, playing spoiler to the other teams in the National League that are fighting for a playoff spot.

Roy Halladay (Associated Press)

This year the Mets seem once again destined for a fourth place finish in the NL East but there’s a wild card in Philadelphia that could change the way the entire division shakes out. That wild card is Roy Halladay. Easily the best pitcher of this generation, Halladay is at the point where he needs to completely reinvent himself. After several significant injuries to his shoulder last year, Halladay has pitched poorly in the past month and the results were on display in his first start against Atlanta. Giving up five runs in just 3 1/3 innings, the concern is officially at an all-time high in Philadelphia (good news for the rest of the league, right?). The problem is that Halladay has completely lost the effectiveness of his fastball, causing him to become far too dependent on his breaking pitches. As great as his curveball has been in his career, the stress placed on the arm by throwing breaking pitches is much higher than fastball stress, a big-time red flag moving forward for Halladay. Although Halladay retired nine of the ten Atlanta batters he was able to get out via strikeout on Tuesday night, it took him ninety-five pitches to get those outs. That, on top of three walks, is not indicative of an ace pitcher. So, like Halladay stressed in his post-game presser, there’s a need for immediate changes to be made. Against the Mets, Halladay has the benefit of facing a relatively inexperienced offense; however, the pesky hitting styles of infielders Daniel Murphy and Ruben Tejada could put Halladay’s biggest issues in the spotlight. The point of pitching is to get outs and without a fastball this will be the hardest thing for Halladay to do until he sorts himself out. It’s probably going to take time, and may never even end up happening, but it’s the only way for Halladay to do things moving forward. Today may not be the day that it all comes together but I wouldn’t say that Halladay is a lost cause yet. You can never bet against a competitor, no matter how bad things may look.

Speaking of which, the 2012 Phillies are the perfect example of coming back from a poor showing. After getting off to an awful start last year that saw them be sellers at the trade deadline for the first time in years, the Phillies were able to scrap together an even record at the end of the year. If you were following this team from day one then you know how virtually impossible this seemed in April and May. Hurt by an offense based around players on the downside of their careers, the Phillies are no longer the elite hitting team that they were five years ago. Chase Utley is no longer the best second baseman in the game. Ryan Howard is no longer a forty home run hitter. Jimmy Rollins is no longer a MVP candidate. At this point these three are just average players being paid at an above average rate. There is one thing that this lineup still has though and it’s enough to keep them around in the National League playoff picture year in and year out.

Matt Harvey (Brad Penner / USA Today Sports)

Veteran savvy is irreplaceable. It can’t be created, it can’t be acquired in any high-profile draft pick. It needs to be earned by time in the Majors and that’s something the Phillies have more than any other team. Possessing one of the oldest lineups in baseball, Philadelphia is a team reliant on their veterans’ ability to play the game effectively. Whether it means dropping a bunt in the right situation or reading a defensive shift in a critical at bat, the Phillies are one of the most efficient teams in baseball. It’s teams like this that tend to give young pitchers the most trouble. Against a young Padres team that I featured a few days ago, Mets second-year starter Matt Harvey allowed one hit in seven innings, striking out ten. It’s a start that has brought hope and big expectations to New York as the highly regarded prospect has seemed to prove that he’s worth all the hype. This isn’t the case yet though. Facing the Phillies today, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Harvey struggle, especially in the walks department. Battling control issues throughout his time in the Minors, Harvey has shown that such is his weakness and the Phillies are the kind of team to take advantage of that. In two starts against Philadelphia last year, Harvey walked five batters in 13 1/3 innings, a discrepancy he was able to get away with without any major damage. This time around though the Phillies are healthier and stronger, a sign that Harvey might not be as fortunate if he faces the same control issues. It’s a common problem young pitchers face, and most tend to get away with it, but it’s also something the Phillies are constantly taking advantage of and that may be the case tonight as well.

Lucas Duda (Associated Press)

Player to Watch – Phillies 1B Ryan Howard

It’s been a long time coming for Ryan Howard to return to form. A safe bet to hit anywhere between forty to fifty home runs in a given season just a few years ago, injuries and age have not been kind to Howard. It’s been a complete change for the slugger whose only consistent statistic has been in the strikeout department. However, it isn’t completely time to give up on Howard. After a hot spring that saw him hit seven home runs, Howard may be one good at-bat away from clicking once again. Spring showed that he’s healthy, now it’s time for the results to do the same. Against a fastball-reliant pitcher like Harvey, Howard stands his best chance at getting a pitch to drive out of the park. It’s a scene we’re all used to, Howard cleaning out a high fastball for a mammoth home run and sending the Philadelphia crowd into hysterics. All it takes is one mistake from Harvey to bring those days back to Philly. Then it’ll be up to Howard to put that trademark power back on display in the middle of the Phillies lineup.

Player to Drop – Mets LF Lucas Duda

Let me start this with the disclaimer that the Mets outfield is on a rotating basis so Duda may not be playing tonight. My assumption would be that as a left-handed hitter he gets the start but I suppose we’ll find out. Anyway, Duda is your classic non-prospect who makes it to the big leagues based on great Minor League numbers despite not having the projected tools to succeed in the Majors. Rolls off the tongue, right? Duda possesses a solid amount of left-handed power that teams preciously desire but has failed to prove definitively that he can hit big league pitching. And Roy Halladay sure is a big league pitcher. Even though his fastball is essentially a non-factor at this point, his breaking pitches are sure to give Duda fits each time he steps up to bat. Without a hit in nine at-bats against Halladay, it’s safe to say that Duda has already had enough of the former ace.

Post Script:

Another start, another struggle for Roy Halladay as he couldn’t make it through the fifth inning and gave up seven runs to the Mets last night. Without large strikeout numbers to back him up, this outing makes it clear things are getting worst for Halladay. Four of Halladay’s six hits allowed came on fastballs, a sign that hitters are definitely no longer afraid of what used to be his greatest weapon. It’s no lie that Halladay is going to need to reinvent himself if he wants to keep his career going. At this pace he’s no better than a number four starter and that’s unacceptable for somebody with his pedigree.

In contrast, Matt Harvey pitched very well for the Mets last night, garnering a lot of praise on his way through seven dominant innings. Getting attention from the MLB Network as well as Curt Schilling, Harvey operated between 94-98 miles per hour on his fastball while mixing in a couple of vanishing sliders along the way. There’s no doubt that his stuff is as good as any other young starter in the game today but I’m still cautiously skeptical about his walk issues (he’s still yet to go an entire start without walking a batter). His career could go in any direction from this point onward but it looks like Harvey is intent on trending upward as the season goes on.

Although he put together a couple of solid at-bats, Ryan Howard once again had nothing to show for it as the slugging first baseman went o for 3 with two strikeouts. Not able to catch up to Harvey’s fastball on several separate occasions, Howard continues to make it clear that he may never come close to being what he used to be. Until he proves he can handle the heater again the rest of the league will continue to take note and blow fastballs by him upstairs. And as long as the strikeouts keep piling up expect things to only go downhill from here for Howard. Wow, Spring Training really was such a tease…

Finally, Lucas Duda went 1 for 3 with a walk and a RBI as he got the start out in left field for the Mets. After being hit by a Halladay pitch his first time up, Duda roped a fastball up the middle in his second at-bat for his only hit on the day. An example of perfect timing at the plate, the hit came on a lifeless two-seamer and reinforced that Duda is simply an established junk ball hitter. A strikeout on a change-up and a groundout on a curveball in his last two at-bats show that there’s still a lot left to be desired for the Mets left-hander. At twenty-seven years old, time is starting to run out for Duda and he’ll need to prove that he can handle pitches other than the fastball if he wants to cement a starting position in this offense.

04/07/2013

Explore the Score – April 7

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2-3) vs. Texas Rangers (3-2)
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, 8:05 P.M.
Jered Weaver (0-0, 1.50) vs. Yu Darvish (1-0, 0.00)

Easily the best part about the beginning of the baseball season is the alignment that teams have when it comes to their rotation’s aces. Across the league today, nine match-ups involving each team’s opening day starter are going on, a number that is sure to decrease as team schedules begin to take on a life of their own. Although the match-up that I’ve chosen to feature today doesn’t involve two opening day starters, it does involve two of the most talented teams in the game and that’s always something worth talking about.

Yu Darvish (Paul Moseley / Getty Images)

Yesterday’s 8-4 win over the Rangers was exactly what the Angels needed. After another summer of warm California baseball last year and a spring full of games under the hot Arizona sun to follow, the Angels bats cooled down with the weather in Cincinnati as the Reds overpowered LA in their first series of 2013. It was a disappointing start to the season for a team viewed by many to be a World Series favorite; however, a few poor showings to start the year aren’t necessarily damning. On the strength of four home runs yesterday, two by pivotal lineup cog Albert Pujols, the Angels finally showed a glimpse of what they could be capable of this year. Stacked from top to bottom with a lineup full of some of the best hitters at their respective positions, the Angels are one of few teams who seeming have the ability to score at will. Quite a different offense than the last one Rangers starter Yu Darvish faced, don’t you think?

If you don’t already know by now, Yu Darvish was one out away from a perfect game in his first start of the 2013 season. Dominating the Houston Astros to the tune of fourteen strikeouts, Darvish took no time at all to show the league that a year under his belt could make all the difference this time around. Possessing some of the best stuff amongst any pitcher in baseball, Darvish is only a few adjustments away from entering the status of pitching elite amongst his peers. However, today’s match-up could present a hiccup on that path. Despite facing no opposition from the Astros lineup from start to one batter away from finish, Darvish threw a whopping 111 pitches Tuesday night, an almost unheard of amount in a pitcher’s first game of the season. As Darvish admitted to after the game, fatigue became an issue for him toward the end of his outing and was definitely felt as his pitch count continued to rise. Although five days have passed since then, I fear that Darvish’s extraneous effort during his perfect game bid could carry over into today’s start. Facing a team that has given him fits in the past, mainly in reference to an August 1 start last year that saw him walk a career-high six batters, Darvish could be in line for a very rough outing tonight. If he isn’t able to locate his fastball like he has had trouble doing in the past then Darvish could slip back into his old tendencies of throwing around the strike zone and become his own worst enemy. It’s worth noting that Darvish’s outing against the Astros was his first-ever regular season start without allowing a walk. If that doesn’t make it clear that walks stand to be Darvish’s greatest hurdle to tackle then I don’t know what would.

Of course if I’m going to talk about the Angels great offense I can’t forget to mention that the Rangers aren’t too far behind. Even after watching their best hitter, Josh Hamilton, leave for LA, Texas stills holds one of the most potent offenses in the game. Second baseman Ian Kinsler and shortstop Elvis Andrus serve as catalysts for an offense built on grinding out at bats, slugging home runs, and putting up scores that one would expect to find in a video game rather than real life. However, if there’s one thing that’s been able to slow down the Rangers in recent years it’s Jered Weaver.

Jered Weaver (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)

Coming off a more appropriate Opening Day start that saw him throw only 95 pitches, Weaver looked good earlier this week. Holding Cincinnati to only two hits in six innings pitched, it was another day at the office for Weaver who’s proven he’s one of the Majors toughest pitchers to get a good look at when he’s on his game. Just ask the Rangers. In almost four-hundred combined at-bats against the Angels ace, the Rangers lineup has put up a measly .240 batting average while striking out about twenty percent of the time. It’s startling numbers for an offense used to making any pitcher shake in their cleats yet not surprising when you think about Weaver’s demeanor. Attacking hitters with a low velocity fastball and an advanced arsenal of off-speed and breaking pitches, Weaver is the definition of frustration for any team he opposes. As simple to hit as a ninety mile per hour fastball sounds in comparison to the ninety-five that most starters can pump in nowadays, Weaver’s mixing in of knee-buckling curves and fading change-ups are enough to make that ninety look like a blur coming in. Against a team he’s had success with many times in the past, look for Weaver to have a clear idea on how he wants to go about pitching to each Rangers batter and executing such in a methodical manner. Although this may mean more pitches thrown in less time for Weaver, the results at the end of the game should prove worth it if the Rangers aren’t able to put any good swings on the right-hander. It may not seem like the most dominating outing but six to seven innings of allowing less than three runs against this offense is more than enough for any pitcher to brag about, especially this early in the season.

Player to Watch – Angels LF Mike Trout

Mike Trout (Patrik Giardino / ESPN the Magazine)

Shouldn’t it be obvious by now that Mike Trout is always a player worth watching? After a rookie season that was among the best in baseball history, Trout entered this season believed by many to be the best player in baseball. Oh yeah, and he’s still only twenty-one. There’s no telling what future development could mean for Trout but right now the sky is still the limit. Off to a slow start this season with no home runs or stolen bases, expect today’s nationally televised game to be great ground for Mike Trout to show the rest of the league he wasn’t a one-year wonder. Going 6 for 17 last year with two home runs against Darvish, Trout seems to be the best bit to give the Japanese phenom fits. The Angels offense moves as Trout moves so expect him to be their key to victory tonight.

Player to Drop – Rangers RF Nelson Cruz

As incredible as Nelson Cruz’s hard-fought path to the Majors is, he still has many flaws as a hitter. A safe bet to strikeout on any given night, pitcher’s like Weaver tend to have great success against hitters like Cruz. Sitting dead-red on fastballs or hanging breaking balls for most of his at-bats, Cruz is the type of hitter who makes a pitcher pay for they mistakes. Too bad Weaver is the type of pitcher who doesn’t make mistakes. If Weaver is on his game then expect tonight to be a hard-fought battle for the Texas outfielder who is off to a hot start this season. And if the history between the two is any indication of the results, Cruz could be in for a very difficult time tonight.

Post Script:

Darvish labored through five innings last night, walking four batters and striking out six on his way to a win for Texas. Showing noticeable command issues in the first inning with two walks and a hit by pitch in his first three batters faced, Darvish was able to settle down and rely heavily on his cutter for the rest of his outing before being pulled with blister issues on his pitching hand (a result from his outing against the Astros) . It wasn’t the most spectacular day for Darvish but with all things considered it could have been much worse and a win is a win.

In a bizarre twist, Jered Weaver also dealt with an injury in today’s outing as he strained his left elbow dealing with a comebacker. Allowing five runs in five plus innings pitched, Weaver clearly did not have his best best stuff today and his elbow strain seemed to add injury to insult. With four of his seven hits allowed coming on breaking pitches, Weaver’s reliance on pitches other than his fastball caught up to him yesterday. When you average less than ninety on your fastball, you live and die by command and clearly Weaver (four walks) didn’t have that last night.

Not a surprise when you see that the Angels lost, Mike Trout was kept under control by Rangers pitching all night. Going 0 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts, Trout was unable to take advantage of a shaky Darvish or an at-bat against reliever Robbie Ross with two men on in the sixth. It’s only a matter of time until Trout starts to heat up but until then don’t be surprised if the Angels continue to struggle on offense.

Tonight was ho-hum for Nelson Cruz as the outfielder went 1 for 4 with a single and a strikeout. Seeing twelve off-speed and breaking pitches compared to five fastballs, it’s not surprising to see that the Angels attempted to neutralize Cruz’s power by pitching to him in such a manner. Nor is it surprising to see that it worked. As frustrating as it is, it’s a sign of respect toward what Cruz is capable of doing and he knows he’ll have to get used to it if he wants to remain the feared hitter that he is.

04/05/2013

Explore the Score – April 5

San Diego Padres (1-2) vs. Colorado Rockies (2-1)
Coors Field, 4:10 P.M.
Jason Marquis (0-0, -.–) vs. Jeff Francis (0-0, -.–)

I know what you’re thinking right now. Something along the lines of, “Wait, Jason Marquis and Jeff Francis are both still in the Major Leagues?” That’s right, they are! Both veteran pitchers signed low salary deals with their respective teams this off-season in order to keep their careers going strong into their mid-thirties.

Jedd Gyorko (Kyle Terada / USA Today Sports)

An opposite story can be found in the Padres starting lineup, where only two players (Will Venable and Carlos Quentin) are in their thirties. Heralded as one of the top minor league systems in the game the past couple of seasons, the results are finally starting to show on the big league club. Young players like Yonder Alonso and Jedd Gyorko have already nailed down spots toward the top of the lineup, a clear sign of the offensive help that the Padres need. Last year saw the emergence of third baseman Chase Headley as a MVP candidate; however, a thumb injury in spring training has him sidelined and the team still searching for an offensive identity. With several more high potential prospects on their way to the Majors, it’s just a matter of time until the Padres put together a team that can compete in the NL West. The pitching and bullpen are already in place. Now it’s just up for the offense to get things together and we might see a different kind of baseball going on in San Diego.

Facing left-hander Jeff Francis should be anything but different for the Padres. A fixture on the Rockies pitching staff from 2004-2010, Francis is once again back in Colorado to provide the club with serviceable innings. Although his career numbers aren’t flattering, Francis holds a lot of value for the Rockies. A groundball pitcher that allows very few home runs, Francis represents one of the few Rockies starters to ever put up feasible numbers at Coors Field. Let’s face it, Coors Field is by far the worst park in the majors for pitchers as very few are able to adjust to the thin Denver air. As Jeremy Guthrie proved last year, it takes a very special kind of pitcher to not allow many homers in Colorado and Francis luckily fits that mold. Loaded with right-handed talent, San Diego should have no problem giving Francis a tough time today. However, they can’t count on the long ball to do it for them. For the Padres, putting together big innings will be key as Francis has always been prone to offensive rallies in his career. By taking advantage of this, the Padres hitting should be able to carry them through this game.

Now on to the Rockies where hitting is the only thing that has carried them throughout their franchise’s history. As I mentioned earlier, Coors Field is a pitcher’s worst nightmare and almost every Rockies starter could tell you that from personal experience. On the other hand, ask a Rockies hitter what they think about Coors Field and they’ll have so much to rave about. The list of legendary offensive performance’s is impressive: Larry Walker’s 1997, Todd Helton’s 2000, Matt Holliday’s 2007. Even current outfielder Carlos González’s 2010 season was one for the ages. Despite the addition of a humidor, Coors Field remains one of the league’s greatest launch pads and many hitters have had inflated stats because of it. That’s not to say the Rockies are without stars though as González and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki represent two of the most talented players at their positions throughout the league. What I will say though is that any opposing pitcher is ten times less excited to face the Rockies at Coors than to face them at any other park in the game.

Jason Marquis (Denis Poroy / Getty Images)

And if any opposing pitcher has reason to hate Coors more than any other it should be Jason Marquis. Resigned to a one-year deal over the winter after being picked up the Padres last season, Marquis represents the latest veteran pitcher to make his way to San Diego after hitting a dead-end. Jon Garland in 2010, Aaron Harang in 2011, Edinson Volquez last year. All these pitchers put up solid seasons for the Padres after no longer being wanted by their teams the year before. Marquis is no different from this as last year saw him post an ERA over eight with the Minnesota Twins before making his way over to the Padres where he lowered that to four. There’s no denying it, Petco is where the washed up pitchers go. Maybe that isn’t as catchy as the normal slogan but it sure is true. Returning to Colorado where he pitched well in 2009, Marquis most likely will not be in for the same success today that he had that season. In the past three years, Marquis has seen his home runs per nine innings numbers continue to rise. Last year, Marquis allowed twenty-three home runs in 127 2/3 innings pitched, eight more homers than he allowed in 2009 (216 innings pitched). Relying on craft and veteran knowledge at this point in his career, Coors is not the optimal field for Marquis and that should show today. If the Rockies are as pumped for their home opener as they should be, don’t expect too much from the Padres reclamation project.

Player to Watch – Rockies LF Carlos González

Wilin Rosario (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images)

A game against a hittable right-handed pitcher at Coors? This is basically everything that Carlos González has dreamed of. As we learned very quickly during his 2010 season, CarGo is a MUCH better hitter at home than away. Slugging twenty-six of his thirty-four homers while hitting just under four hundred in seventy-four games at Coors that season, González is the epitome of home-field advantage. Against Marquis, expect CarGo to wreak havoc out of the Rockies number three spot. Already having two homers under his belt this season, don’t be surprised if number three comes as early as today.

Player to Drop – Rockies C Wilin Rosario

Typically I don’t have many doubts about players who are hitting well above five-hundred to start the season but today I do. Rosario burst onto the scene as a rookie last year, hitting twenty-eight home runs in 117 games at the Major League level. A typical right-handed pull hitter, Rosario is another perfect fit for Coors. However, his numbers against right-handed pitchers are less than convincing. Batting over one-hundred points less against righties than lefties, Rosario is a fair bet to have a poor day at the plate today. Facing a strike thrower like Marquis, Rosario should spend most of today behind in the count and in jeopardy of striking out. Throw in the fact that he only hit four of his home runs last year in day games and you have a pretty logical case for Rosario to struggle during today’s match-up.

Post Script

The Padres whiffed on several early opportunities to get to Jeff Francis as the southpaw held them to only one run in six innings. Allowing runners to get into scoring position in each of his first three innings, Francis was able to settle down after that and faced little opposition for the rest of his outing. Although the Padres had their chances, their lack of putting together a big inning is what did them in in this loss.

For Jason Marquis, the opposition wasn’t as merciful as Colorado put up five runs against the San Diego starter. Going six innings, Marquis was victimized by two home runs, each accounting for the two earned runs he allowed (five total runs). Pitching heavily in the strike zone as he normally does, Marquis was the victim of hard contact given up to the wrong parts of the field. With three of his six hits he gave up going for extra bases, it’s easy to see that the Rockies were able to get some good swings going against him today.

Carlos González had a quiet day at the plate, going 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Grounding out in both his at-bats against Marquis, González failed to put good wood on the ball until his last at bat of the day against Anthony Bass. Mark this down as a missed opportunity for CarGo to take advantage of two contact-driven pitchers.

For Wilin Rosario, today was a classic case of feast or famine. Going 1 for 3 with a home run, Rosario put together one solid at-bat sandwiched between two of the Rockies weakest at-bats of the day (one pitch groundout, strikeout). Accounting for the Rockies only strikeout against a pitcher whose career K/9 is less than six, Rosario definitely did not garner the game’s highest honors. However, a home run is still a home run and the fact that it came from behind in the count is a good sign of development for the young catcher.

04/04/2013

Explore the Score – April 4

Before I begin, my apologies for the lack of a post for yesterday. I was in the middle of a look into last night’s Phillies-Braves match-up when my computer decided to not save half of my post right before I needed to leave for work. As much as I wish I could have put something else together, I never got the chance. Moving on though…

Baltimore Orioles (1-1) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (1-1)
Camden Yards, 3:10 P.M.
Miguel González (0-0, -.–) vs. Roberto Hernández (0-0, -.–)

In this rubber game match-up between the Orioles and Rays, two enigmatic pitchers will be on display for their respective teams. The Orioles will be sending Miguel González to the mound, a twenty-seven year old righty who started and struggled in A ball last season while the Rays counter with Roberto Hernández, the true identity of former Cleveland Indians ace Fausto Carmona. Not exactly the most textbook match-up by any means.

Roberto Hernández (Getty Images)

On a related note, it’s fair to say the Orioles aren’t a textbook team either. Led by managerial tactician Buck Showalter, Baltimore is one of the best teams when it comes to overall lineup construction. Balanced from top to bottom, the Orioles lineup features power threats Chris Davis and Matt Wieters while also relying on contact hitters like Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts to provide speed on the base paths. Add in up-and-coming superstar Adam Jones to the middle of the order and you have a pitcher’s worst nightmare. For this reason the Orioles present a challenge to every opposing team as they have no glaring weaknesses on offense. For Hernández this will be a big issue as the sinkerballer is still looking to reestablish himself after an age falsification incident had him suspended. Struggling late last year and this spring, I personally don’t see how Hernández made this team or how this outing could end well for him. It seems clear that Hernández is no longer the pitcher that formed a dominant one-two punch along with CC Sabathia for the Indians so his best bet will be to rededicate himself to refining his breaking pitches. As with most sinker-centric pitchers, this would mean a shift in focus to his curveball, which has been unspectacular recently. Unless he can somehow pull off a major overhaul in a week’s time, I don’t expect Hernández to find very much success this season. With talented AAA pitchers Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery (if he’s finally healthy) right behind him on the depth chart and a sinker that can no longer sink with the best of them, Hernández could very quickly find himself out of the Rays rotation and on his way to a minor league deal somewhere else.

Miguel Gonzalez (Jim Rogash / Getty Images)

Miguel González (Jim Rogash / Getty Images)

As harsh as that sounds, it’s not as much of a bad thing when you think about it. Clearly the Rays’ starting pitching is their biggest strength so being excluded from it isn’t as difficult to stomach. It’s the Rays offense that’s their weakness and, in my eyes, difficult to stomach. After losing several All-Stars to free agency the past couple of seasons, it seems the Rays are forced to completely overhaul their offense every year. And although the lineup they put together is able to put up a decent amount of runs each year, I see huge room for improvement. What’s been the Rays greatest strength on offense has been power and speed, a duo that most teams crave to have a healthy balance of in their lineup (like the Orioles do). But what the Orioles have that the Rays do not is hitters that can carry a strong batting average for a season. It’s an undeniable fact that since 2009 the Rays have been on the wrong end of three perfect games, a no-hitter and a seventeen strikeout, one-hit masterpiece by Brandon Morrow. Now try to tell me that the Rays have a good offense. Power and speed are not the solution to everything and in order for the Rays to reach the postseason and find success they’ll need to figure this out for themselves. The off-season acquisitions of Yunel Escobar and James Loney should help but what will be most important is the health of star third baseman Evan Longoria. If he is able to put up the numbers he is capable of in the middle of the order then the Rays have the ability to reach a whole new level of domination this season. Combine this with the inevitable arrival of super prospect Wil Myers and you have an offense that can finally strike fear in the heart of any pitcher.

Against Miguel González the Rays could greatly benefit from a contact-oriented approach on offense today. Still relatively unproven, González showed last year that despite his success he can become his own worst enemy with runners on base. Possessing an average array of pitches, breaking González’s focus will be the key to the Rays game today. Top of the order hitters Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist will be pivotal as each presents a threat on the base paths that will stay in the back of González’s head. Whether they steal or not, the simple presence of either of them on base should be enough to allow Longoria and the hitters behind him the chance to make González pay for the mistake pitches he will undoubtedly end up making. If the Rays are able to capitalize on the first start nerves that González should have then expect a short and tumultuous outing for the right-hander.

Player to Watch – Rays 3B Evan Longoria

Evan Longoria (US Presswire)

As I mentioned before, Evan Longoria is a star. Now it is time for him to make the jump toward becoming a superstar. After a strong first three years in the Majors, Longoria has been plagued by injury issues the past couple of years. Still just twenty-seven years old, Longoria has shown flashes of what he’s capable of but is constantly set back by nagging tweaks that upset his timing at the plate. This year the slugger seems to be in good health, a bad sign for the rest of the American League. Just starting to enter his prime, if Longoria can remain healthy then he should put up huge numbers in the middle of the Rays lineup. Possessing some of the best hitting and fielding talent that the Majors has to offer, Longoria is one season away from becoming the household name that he deserves to be. If he can stay health, don’t be surprised to hear his name come up in the AL MVP conversation for the next few years.

Player to Drop – Orioles 3B Manny Machado

Although I think Machado will be an elite hitter once his career takes off, it’s tough for me to say I agree with him being in the Majors this soon. Putting up decent numbers for the Orioles down the stretch last year, Machado is still only twenty years old. That’s right, TWENTY years old. Younger than me actually, which is pretty crazy to think about. In 2012, Machado made the jump from AA to the Majors, something that has become oddly frequent for top prospects the past few years. And although many of these players have found success based off their talent alone, it’s impossible to deny that development at the AAA level would be beneficial for them. Facing a movement based pitcher like Hernández, Machado could find himself at a disadvantage when it comes to pitch familiarity. Fastball speeds may change from pitcher to pitcher but a four-seam fastball can only break so much. With a sinker, any sort of downward movement can be put on the ball to give it a different look each time. For a hitter like Machado unfamiliar with this at the Major League level, the results may not be so kind his first few times around.

Post Script:

Roberto Hernández had an up and down day on the mound for the Rays. Going 6 2/3 innings with four runs allowed, his numbers were solid overall. However, the damage done against him could have been a lot worst. Aided by seven strikeouts, Hernández was able to prevent more than half the runners he allowed on base to score, something that makes his final line look a lot better than it was. Unable to put together back-to-back perfect innings, Hernández’s struggle with consistency is what should stick out most from his performance. Overall, today was a lackluster start for the right-hander and still leaves him as a question mark waiting to be figured out somewhere down the line.

Similarly, Orioles starter Miguel González put together a performance that left a lot to be desired. Lasting 6 1/3 with only two runs allowed, González was effective at most. By keeping hitters off base in his first couple of innings, González was able to get into a groove and shut the Rays down. As he made it to the fifth though, things started to pile up on González as a leadoff single was followed by three more hits that allowed two runs to score. By limiting Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist to getting on base only once between the both of them, González was able to keep his distractions to a minimum. Only when he was forced to pitch in a trouble situation did he lose control of the game. However, luck was on his side as a Tampa Bay double play allowed him to escape the inning with a lot less damage done.

Despite only scrapping together three runs as a team, Evan Longoria played a significant role in the Rays offense for the day. Going 2 for 4 and collecting his first RBI of the season, Longoria easily had his team’s best day at the plate. Still working on finding his power this season, Longoria is off to a hot start. Collecting five hits in his first three games, it should only be a short time longer until Longoria is once again crushing balls into the stands at big league parks across the country. Until then though, the most Longoria can do is continue to contribute, something he has not surprisingly been able to do with ease so far this year.

Finally, Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado unfortunately did live up to my predictions before the game. Going 0 for 5 with two strikeouts and two groundouts, Machado was unable to put any good contact on the ball until his final at-bat in the ninth inning. As expected, Hernández’s movement-based pitching style was able to keep Machado in check throughout the game and limit his ability to drive the ball. It’ll only be a matter of time until Machado learns how to approach these styles of pitchers but until that time comes, expect a similar line of troubles to continue.

04/02/2013

Explore the Score – April 2

St. Louis Cardinals (0-1) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (1-0)
Chase Field, 9:40 P.M.
Jaime García (0-0, -.–) vs. Trevor Cahill (0-0, -.–)

This may not seem like the sexiest match-up of number two starters out there but there still is a lot on the line in this game. Two young pitchers on big money contracts still trying to find their identities in the Major Leagues? Sometimes looking beneath the surface can make a game so much sweeter.

For the Cardinals, last season was the complete opposite of sweet. Although the team eliminated the heavily favored Atlanta Braves in the wild card playoff and the NL’s best team in the Washington Nationals in the NLDS, the Cardinals were overwhelmed by the San Francisco Giants in the latter half of the NLCS. And that right there is enough to disappoint this winning franchise. Entering this season with almost all the same pieces in place, the Cardinals top-notch offense should prove to be their strength. All-Star hitters Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltrán are once again healthy while budding stars like Allen Craig and Yadier Molina seem poised for huge seasons.

This is what’s going to give Trevor Cahill the most trouble today. A contact pitcher, the Cardinals present one of the toughest offenses that Cahill could face early in the season. A lot of pressure will be placed on the Diamondbacks infield today as Cahill will look to pound his sinker inside to the Cardinals’ hitters in order to prevent them from getting their arms extended and driving the ball. However, it is still April so Cahill can’t expect to have full control of his arsenal. A sinker is a feel pitch, one that only few are able to specialize in, so Cahill will need to rediscover this pitch before finding success this season. As much as I love Cahill and what he brings to the Diamondbacks, I can’t help but feel that this outing will not end well for him. The Cardinals are as professional a team as you can get and they won’t miss very many mistake pitches. Playing in a hitter’s park like Chase Field, there’s very little room for error in Cahill’s start today and that’s not the best way to approach a starter’s first game of the year. Although Cahill still has room to grow into a top of the rotation starter, this outing is not optimal for him to walk away with an impressive pitching line.

Jaime García (Associated Press)

On the other side of things, the Diamondbacks don’t have a shabby offense either. That is, they didn’t have one until spring training came around and the bad news piled up. Losing outfielders Cody Ross and Adam Eaton to major injuries while minor tweaks have plagued lineup standouts Aaron Hill and Jason Kubel, the D-backs are already at a disadvantage for the beginning of the season. However, this may oddly work to their advantage in regard to who they’re facing today.

The problem with left-hander Jaime García is his ability to retain focus in every start. Making a name for himself with a strong 2010 season, García’s numbers have steadily declined in the past two seasons. Part of this has been the result of several key injuries that García has faced but it’s important to note that these things are often the result of poor conditioning. This has been a big frustration for the Cardinals in recent years, especially since they rewarded García’s early numbers with a lucrative contract extension a few years ago. Now seemingly healthy, this season will be significant for García to prove that he’s a pitcher capable of holding a spot on this team. With pitching prospects Shelby Miller, Joe Kelly and Trevor Rosenthal knocking on the door to the Majors, every spot in the Cardinals rotation beside Adam Wainwright‘s should be considered up for grabs from here on out. Today’s match-up has García facing a weak Arizona offense; however, the D-backs should put García’s main issue on display. Facing many unknown players, García will need to retain his focus in order to find success today. Although these hitters may not be stars, they made it to the Major Leagues for a good reason and are more than capable of hitting any mistake pitches very far. Typically operating under ninety miles per hour, García doesn’t have the best stuff and will need to focus on locating every pitch he makes. If he isn’t able to then expect his short leash to get shorter for the rest of the season.

Player to Watch – Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt

Paul Goldschmidt (Norm Hall / Getty Images)

It may seem out of nowhere but if history has told us anything it’s that a big money extension is enough to thrust any player into their team’s spotlight early on. After nailing down a five-year, $32 million deal last week, all eyes will be on Goldschmidt to meet these new expectations. With the departure of Justin Upton, Goldschmidt has quickly become Arizona’s best right-handed option. Against a southpaw like García, Goldschmidt should have no problem handling any pitches that enter his hot zones and should be a decent bet for some major damage tonight. The young first baseman has proven that his power is legitimate, now it’s time to turn it into a weapon against the many great lefties that the National League has to offer.

Player to Drop – Diamondbacks C Miguel Montero

Another cornerstone of the D-backs young offense, Montero is my pick to struggle in today’s match-up. The slugging catcher has been able to put up above average numbers at his position each of the last few seasons; however, his numbers against left-handed pitchers are noticeably average. Facing a craft pitcher like García, Montero will need to remain dialed in at the plate, something that catchers often have a hard time doing due to the many other responsibilities on their hands. Though it’s only day two of the season, Montero will need to juggle a lot in this game (throw in the fact that he’s catching a sinkerballer) and may understandably be overwhelmed. No matter how much I like Montero as a hitter, I don’t think he’ll be able to take on a pitcher like García this early in the season and walk away the victor.

Post Script:

Trevor Cahill put up a solid line last night in a losing effort to the Cardinals. Cahill went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 7 baserunners and 3 runs. Constantly putting runners on in each inning, Cahill clearly battled himself all night as his sinker was a tough pitch for him to control. Although he surprisingly notched seven strikeouts, not knowing where he was putting the pitch undoubtedly haunted him while he was on the mound. The main damage done against him was on an impressive breaking ball that Matt Holliday hooked into the stands for a two run homer so his line doesn’t do him as much justice as it should. Managing to get six groundouts, Cahill was on his game; however, he just had issues controlling it.

Last night saw Jaime García pitch well, allowing just one run in 5 2/3 innings. The southpaw cruised early on, giving up only two hits, but ran into trouble in the sixth. After getting the first two outs, García managed to walk three consecutive batters to load the bases. Although this was not focus-based, it showed that García may not be fully recovered from the injury problems he has faced recently and could battle some fatigue issues early this year. Moving forward it will be important to keep an eye on how García is throwing as his pitch count rises and if his velocity remains in tact late into outings. If it doesn’t then there might be a bigger issue going on that could cause some trouble.

Paul Goldschmidt had a pedestrian day at the plate, going 0 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts. Goldschmidt, like many others in the D-back lineup, had a tough time picking the ball up out of García‘s hand, swinging noticeably late on several pitches while also missing pitches he normally drives deep to left field. In the opening days of the season one can’t expect Goldschmidt to hit every bad pitch a long way; however, if the young first baseman is looking to step up this year he’ll need to become a much more opportune hitter.

And finally, in the ultimate effort to prove me wrong, Miguel Montero was the only Diamondbacks hitter that had success at the plate last night. Racking up two of the D-backs three hits, including a home run, Montero took advantage of bad pitches thrown his way by García. His home run came on a cutter left high in the middle of the zone and was hit the opposite way on a line into the stands. Despite fanning on my prediction that he’d struggle, I can’t even be mad. This game shows that Montero has continued to advance as a hitter as he enters his age thirty season. Instead of missing a good pitch to hit, Montero was able to use his great power to muscle the ball out of the park. If this is a sign of things to come for the season, expect big offensive things for Montero as he figures to hit toward the top of the lineup all season long.

04/01/2013

Explore the Score – April 1

Boston Red Sox (0-0) vs. New York Yankees (0-0)
Yankee Stadium, 1:05 P.M.
Jon Lester (0-0, -.–) vs. CC Sabathia (0-0, -.–)

Although it’s all different players and coaches, the same rivalry exists between these two teams. And you better bet an Opening Day showdown in the Bronx is not going to do anything to take away from that storied history.

Jon Lester (Elsa / Getty Images)

The Red Sox enter this game on the road to redemption after a horrific 2012 season. Reloaded this year with several significant free agent signings and a strong minor league system, the Sox are still officially considered underdogs compared to the rest of the league this year. However, this team has the talent and payroll to once again prove their true worth this season. After highly publicized slow starts to their past few seasons, the Sox will be looking to come out strong against Yankees ace CC Sabathia today. Always proving to be a challenge for Sabathia, Boston’s patient lineup is consistently able to attack the lefty’s main weakness. Possessing only two truly elite pitches, Sabathia needs to have both his fastball and slider on their game in order to dominate a good offense. With most outings being either one or the other, expect the Sox to make him work hard once again today as they look to tire out the workhorse starter and make a statement to the rest of the league.

As for the Yankees, an identity is what will be looked for starting today. With star hitters Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson all expected to miss time with significant injuries, the Yankees offensive core is full of new faces. Furthermore, the departure of catcher Russell Martin and clubhouse clown Nick Swisher leave the Yankees with little options to turn to for on the field leadership. Second baseman Robinson Cano will be relied upon heavily until the Captain recovers from his injury while veterans like third baseman Kevin Youkilis will hopefully bring a fresh look to this declining team.

Facing a familiar face in Red Sox ace Jon Lester, the Yankees will hope that their new team has better success against the left-handed pitcher. Although his ERA in twenty-two starts against the Yankees is over four, Lester has shown in the past that he is capable of shutting down the Bronx Bombers when his cutter is working. After a strong spring, Lester looks poised to recover his All-Star form that saw him get some Cy Young consideration as recently as 2010. A poor showing last year may have taken the shine off the prized pitching apple but a new season brings new hope for the Sox ace. Expect Lester to come out strong today as he looks to shake off his reputation of being a slow starter and lead his team back to playoff contention once again.

Player to Watch – Yankees 2B Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano (Associated Press)

As I mentioned earlier, a lot of responsibility will be upon Cano’s shoulders entering this season. No longer surrounded by a slew of Hall of Fame caliber hitters, it will be interesting to see how Cano adjusts to life as the rock of a lineup. After leading the Dominican Republic to a championship in the World Baseball Classic last month, Cano seems to be ready to claim his new role. Today’s game will not be about his box score statistics, it will be about how he approaches each situation his at-bats find him in and how he is able to dictate the rest of the offense from the number three spot in the order. Only time will tell if Cano is ready to be the next great Yankee legend but one thing that’s for sure now is that his free agent clock clicks closer and closer as each game go by. Something has to give, now or never.

Player to Drop – Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia

It’s not the easy choice to make but I’m not about shying away from bold predictions here on this blog. The fact that Pedroia has struck out thirteen times in thirty-seven at-bats against Sabathia is by far his highest total against any pitcher. Now this may not seem like a lot but compared to Pedroia’s normal rate of striking out once every 9.8 at-bats, the number sticks out. Known for his unmatchable level of hand-eye coordination, not many pitchers are able to keep Pedroia off-balance, yet Sabathia manages to do so on a consistent basis. Don’t be surprised if today is any different. Pedroia has been known to be a slow starter in years past while Sabathia seems ready to go for another full season.

Post Script:

As I expected, the Red Sox lineup gave CC Sabathia some trouble today and it paid off for them big time. Laboring through five innings, Sabathia was forced to throw 102 pitches while allowing four runs and twelve men to get on base. The big left-hander didn’t have his best stuff from the beginning, allowing the Red Sox to jump out early and pile on four runs in the second inning. Although it’s only one start, Sabathia’s results are concerning for a Yankees team battling so much bad news already. One more poor outing and it may be time to push the panic button early in the Bronx this year.

For the Red Sox, Jon Lester provided a gutsy performance. Not having his best stuff in tow, Lester as able to minimize the damage around him by making key pitches when he needed to. Despite his five hits and two walks allowed in only five innings, Lester worked through the Yankees lineup in a manner that proved his maturity to all those who paid attention. With last year officially behind, now may be the time for Lester to once again reclaim a spot as a Cy Young contender.

Robinson Cano offered little in terms of stepping up during today’s game. Hitting a single before striking out twice in the later innings of the game, Cano had many opportunities yet failed to capitalize. His three runners left on base were a glaring issue as his team trailed all game long from the second inning onward. For Cano to really prove himself this season, he’ll need hit, and hit well, when it comes to runners on base or pressure situations. Today’s game just showed us that the second basemen will miss the presence of Jeter and A-rod batting around him this season.

With Sabathia’s struggle already being spelled out, it’s not hard to understand why Dustin Pedroia was able to have a good game. Going 2 for 6 with a RBI single, Pedroia owned Sabathia in his couple of at-bats against him before going silent for the rest of the game. The fiery second baseman continued to contribute in every other facet of the game yet a greater involvement should have been expected of him with the game’s final score in mind. Now the number three hitter for the Sox, Pedroia has already done a lot to prove many in the business wrong. This means it’s time for him to rest my doubts and do this again against Sabathia when he’s one-hundred percent. Against an ace like Sabathia, any positives Pedroia is able to take away is a sure bet to remain a part of his game moving forward. We’ll see what he does next time around against the big Yankees southpaw.

03/31/2013

Explore the Score – March 31

I’m back. And not in a Cher way where I’m back for a couple of days then gone again then back again and lather, rinse, repeat. This is the real deal.

The occasion, you may wonder? Well, IT’S OPENING DAY. My three (accidentally four actually) fantasy teams have been drafted, my MLB At Bat app updated, my Five Hour Energy Shot stash replenished. Consider me ready for a whole new season of baseball, especially this year as I’m bringing these posts to you.

As I mentioned in my last post before taking the week off (and a tumultuous week it was), things from here on out will take a new direction. No longer am I relegated to discussing pitching only; the offensive world is now my oyster and I am ripe with the desire to cover it.

So, without further ado, let us get back to business.

Texas Rangers (0-0) vs. Houston Astros (0-0)
Minute Maid Park, 8:05 P.M.
Matt Harrison (0-0, -.–) vs. Bud Norris (0-0, -.–)

Quite the tough pick for a game to cover, huh? With only one game taking place tomorrow, the stage is nationally set for the entire world to witness the Houston Astros first attempt at transition into the American League. And, as of right now, it doesn’t look like that transition will go all too smoothly.

The main obstacle standing in their way is the ever-dangerous Texas Rangers. Led by a lineup that can crush an opponent’s heart and soul one through nine, the Rangers are once again poised to compete for the American League West title this season. Despite losing their best hitter to a division rival and whiffing on several key off-season acquisitions, Texas can still pack a punch. Offensive stars Adrián Beltré, Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus anchor a talented offense that can seemingly score at will. In order for Astros starter Bud Norris to succeed against these hitters, he will need to establish his off-speed pitches early. Texas has shown in the past years that its hitters can turn around fastballs with the best of them. Now it’s up to Norris to make his fastball better than the best of them.

Matt Harrison (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

The problem with this though is that Norris doesn’t possess that kind of ability. Although the right-hander possesses a big-time fastball, the pitch’s lack of late life moving away from hitters makes it easy to barrel up against if he isn’t disguising it. Placing such an emphasis on off-speed and breaking pitches this early in the season never bodes well, especially against a team like Texas. Expect Norris to rack up some strikeouts; however, be more wary of hard contact and the possibility of being taken deep often. Without the true stuff to that can keep a hitter guessing on every pitcher, Norris should quickly prove to the baseball world that he is not an ace starter. He may be the Astros’ ace but sadly that ain’t saying much nowadays.

And the same goes for Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison. Although he has been consistent contributor in Texas the past few years and posted impressive numbers last season, everybody knows Harrison is not the best pitcher on this staff. That honor belongs to Japanese phenom Yu Darvish. However, with Darvish still only in his second year and not short of flaws himself, Harrison presents a feasible option. Facing the Astros today, don’t expect much of a challenge for him. In a lineup completely barren of talent, the Astros only true hope lies in the form of young second basemen Jose Altuve. Beside his bat at the top of the order, no hitter should stand in Harrison’s way. On Opening Day expect Harrison to be full of adrenaline regardless of the team he’s facing and use it to his full advantage in shutting the Astros down in their first taste of American League life. It’s a bitter taste; however, it seems it’ll unfortunately be one for years to come in Houston.

Carlos Peña with the Rays (Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images)

Player to Watch: Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler

In case you haven’t noticed, Ian Kinsler makes a living off fast starts to the season. Batting .300 with three home runs in seven previous Opening Day contests, Kinsler is the ever-important spark for the Rangers offense. Against Norris, Kinsler has an incredible opportunity to start 2013 with a bang as well. Look for Kinsler to play a pivotal role in what should turn out to be an easy Rangers victory.

Player to Drop: Astros /DH Carlos Peña

The glory days for Peña are truly over. After managing only 98 hits in just under five hundred at bats last season, Peña has officially proven that he is no longer an offensive threat for teams to worry about. Sure, the natural power is still there for the slugging lefty; however, the holes in his swing are too easy to take advantage of. With Matt Harrison representing a fellow southpaw, expect Peña to have trouble making contact each time through the order. And it’s never a bad idea to keep an eye out for a strikeout as well. Those too seem to find a way to get to Peña each night (182 last season).

Post Script:

Despite battling control issues and falling behind almost every hitter, Bud Norris pitched well in the Astros win. Norris went 5 2/3 innings while allowing two runs and three walks. His slider showed tight movement out of the zone, causing the Rangers to constantly put poor swings on the pitch. Although he did not allow any home runs, Norris did give up hard contact on several poorly placed fastballs. Whether it was luck or not, it got him a win that he will be more than happy to walk away with.

Victimized by one poorly placed pitch (resulting in a Justin Maxwell triple) and several key errors behind him, Matt Harrison had an unfortunate night. The southpaw allowed five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched while taking the loss for the Rangers. His fastball showed great sink early on but high pitch totals caused him to tire out quickly. Racking up an abnormal nine strikeouts, Harrison was able to dominate Houston’s lineup; however, the box score shows the true story of the one pitch that Harrison would like back.

Ian Kinsler’s streak of big Opening Day hits came to an end tonight as the second baseman went 0 for 3 with a walk. Lining out to right and center field respectively in his first two at-bats, Kinsler was able to put a great swing on the ball without the results to show. Although the numbers don’t show it, it was a solid night at the plate for the Rangers leadoff hitter.

Finally, Carlos Peña met expectations tonight, striking out three times in four appearances as the Astros cleanup hitter. The slugger lined a single to left field in his second at-bat against Harrison but looked weak in his other plate appearances that saw him strike out. Facing only left-handed pitchers in his time at the plate, Peña’s poor results are not a surprise and should be expected from him in similar situations moving forward.

03/26/2013

Providence Pulls Away Late, Beats Robert Morris in NIT

Senior guard Vincent Council scored seven of his twelve points in the final six minutes of the game to lead the Friars past the Colonials 77-68 Monday night.

“[Council willed] us to win,” coach Ed Cooley said after the game. “Your seniors carry you.”

Council carried the Friars indeed as he drained several important free throws to keep the Colonials from coming back late in the game. Council scored twelve points and remained on the court for the full forty.

LaDontae Henton led the Friars with 21 points while this season’s BIG EAST scoring leader Bryce Cotton chipped in 20. Forward Lee Goldsbrough added nine rebounds, including several important boards in the final three minutes.

“That’s just my role, that’s what I do,” Goldsbrough said. “It was just great, I don’t know how else to describe it. It was unbelievable.”

Providence came out slow in the first half, falling behind 9-2 before finally getting going on offense. After scoring seven straight to tie it up, the Friars defense couldn’t stop the Colonials from making threes. Robert Morris put up eleven threes in the contest.

“That was the best three point shooting team we played all year,” Cooley said. “It’s tough to overcome that.”

With a Cotton buzzer-beater knotting the score up at 34 before the half, the Friars opened the second on an 8-0 run. Colonials guard Karvel Anderson led his team back though as Robert Morris was able to take the lead with thirteen left to play. From that point on, it was all Friars as the Colonials found themselves quickly in foul trouble.

“It’s hard to beat a team when they make twenty more free throws then you do,” coach Andrew Toole brought up after the game. “Unfortunately we weren’t able to make enough winning plays down the stretch.”

Anderson led the Colonials with eighteen points (4-7 from three) while forward Russell Johnson added sixteen points and five steals.

Robert Morris defeated defending NCAA champion Kentucky in round one of the NIT.

The Friars will face Baylor in the tournament quarterfinals Wednesday night.

03/25/2013

Explore the Score – Hiatus Edition!

Hello dedicated readers (AKA my mom and dad),

Due to my massive workload in the upcoming days (hoping to get it all done so I can go home for Easter!), I have decided to take a week off from posting Explore the Score articles. Fret not though, you better bet I’ll be ready to get back to you on Opening Day, and in a new format. Here’s what to expect from the blog when it returns:

– In-depth analysis of offensive players

– Hitters to watch / avoid

– Batter vs. pitcher breakdowns

– Greater situation descriptions

– Short post-scripts for each blog post

– And a lot more I’ll figure out as it goes!

As much as I’ve loved posting during Spring Training, I can’t wait for the regular season to begin in order to offer you guys so much more. Plus, now that my work fantasy draft is over I don’t have to worry about informing my opponents! So take the week to get geared up for the regular season and please be sure to check back in next Sunday. Here’s to hoping we can keep this going from Game 1 to Game 162!

All the best,

Kyle Brasseur