Brandon Crawford's Unexpected Road to Success

Brandon Crawford was raised to be a San Francisco Giant. Growing up in Pleasanton, California in a family that had Giants' season tickets. Crawford's five-year-old face has already entrenched itself in the memory of Giants' fans, seeing him next to a "Mr. White. Do what's right! Keep the Giants in SF" sign." Who would have guessed in 1992, that five-year-old boy would play a key role in a the Giants' dynasty 22 years later.

Fun Fact: SF Giants SS Brandon Crawford pic.twitter.com/8WVBuSY1

— Jaime Maggio (@jaimemaggio) October 26, 2012

MLB Power Rankings Week 7

Overview:
-Just in case you have been living under a rock all week, Josh Hamilton is playing like a Hall of Famer right now. Put aside his Triple Crown numbers on the year (.402 BA, 18 HR's, 44 RBI's) let's take a look at his numbers in the month of May. Hamilton has posted a 1.194 Slugging Percentage this month, to go along with a .500 On Base Percentage. Hamilton has stepped it up this past week though with 9 Home Runs, including 4 (16th player ever) on May 7th against the Orioles. Hamilton's' road from No.1 Pick, to drugs to Texas, has been a long one but with this hot start he is on pace to shatter some offensive records and maybe become the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox in . There were other games in baseball aside from Hamilton, so let's get to it.

By the Numbers:


18: Total Bases on Tuesday by Josh Hamilton (4 HR's 1 2B) now an American League record.

.441: On Base Percentage this season by Cubs 1B Bryan LaHair. 6th best in the Majors

.74: WHIP this season by Giants SP Matt Cain who is 2-2 on the year thanks to little run support.

1.768: OPS this week by Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen has hit safely in 10 of his past 17 AB's and is a big reason for the Pirates new win streak.

12: Strikeouts by Rangers SP Colby Lewis against the Orioles Thursday. Lewis gave up 6 ER thanks to 5 HR's and became the first pitcher to allow 5 ER or more and strike out 10 or more in the same game.

MLB Power Rankings Week 6

Overview:

-It was another great week of baseball this week in which history was made and several 2011 All Stars went down with some serious injuries. First off is Angels SP Jered Weaver who became the 10th Angels player to throw a no hitter in the team's history. It took Weaver 121 Pitches to do so as he struck out 9 Twins and only walking one as part of the Angels 9-0 victory. Just up north in San Francisco Giants slugging 3B Pablo Sandoval found out he had broken the hamate bone in his left hand. Sandoval broke the same bone last year in his right hand and missed 6 weeks which is the expected time table for this injury. Fellow 3B Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays will be out even longer with a partially torn hamstring. Longoria suffered the injury Monday Night while trying to steal Second Base. The biggest injury news though had to be the Yankees loss of Mariano Rivera who went down with a torn ACL during warm ups. It was a hectic week around baseball, with Weavers no-no and the Rays and Giants losing their All Stars, but it still managed to be a exciting week. 

By the Numbers:

7: RBI's by Cardinals OF Carlos Beltran in the teams 12-3 Win against the Pirates on Wednesday

110: At Bats as an Angel before Albert Pujols finally hit a HR. A Major League record for a player with more then 400 Career HR's

97: Pitches thrown by Blue Jays SP Henderson Alvarez in his Complete Game Shutout of the Angels. The 1st of his career. 

1: HR's this season by Angels 1B Albert Pujols. He finally hit one Sunday against the Blue Jays. He is still hitting .196 on the year with 7 RBI's.

5: Wins this season by Giants SP Madison Bumgarner. He didn't have 5 Wins until July 19th last year.

Power Rankings:


1.) Washington Nationals (18-10):
-The Nationals take the No.1 spot in the Week 6 Power Rankings even after getting handled in their 3-9 loss to the Phillies at home. The story for the Nationals though has become 19 year old phenom Bryce Harper who has already set the Majors ablaze. Harper has showed all the tools of a future MVP, he has shown off his rocket arm throwing home both which should have been outs. Harper also has shown off his baseball IQ with smart base running and situational awareness. With the Nats offense continuing to struggle Harper may have found a play to stay in the Majors.
2.) Tampa Bay Rays (19-10):
-You would have thought the devastating loss of Evan Longoria would have crippled this team but they just keep on pressing, that was until Matt Moore and Joel Peralta crushed the teams momentum as they lost a 3 game series to the A's. Rookie Matt Moore hasn't lived up to expectations this year with a 5.71 ERA and a 1-2 record. Despite his struggles and the absence of Longoria the Rays should continue to play like the best team in baseball.
3.) Baltimore Orioles (19-9):
-The Orioles easily have to be the biggest surprise so far early in the 2012 season. A team everyone expected to finish last in the AL East, is not only first in the East, but first in all of baseball. The team has been solid throughout with the offense getting contributions from everyone in the lineup with guys like Matt Weiters, Adam Jones, and even Mark Reynolds. As for their pitching, well it has been great to as Jason Hammel, Brian Matusz and Jake Arrieta have been pitching well as of late. The team is now coming off a 3 game sweep in Boston, and now head back home for a 4 game series against the red hot Rays. It will be a true test to determine if this Orioles team is legit or just a flash in the pan.
4.) Los Angeles Dodgers (18-10):
-The Dodgers drop a bit in my Power Rankings after blowing their win Sunday against the Cubs. The Blown Save was the 3rd by Javy Guerra this season, and it appears he may be close to losing the job to Strikeout Master Kenley Jansen. The Dodgers have made it here so far thanks to crazy numbers from Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, but it appears the hot start has faded a bit. As the Dodgers head back home for a crucial 3 game series against the Giants, it will be a true test to determine who is the best team in the NL West.
5.) Texas Rangers (18-10):
-The Rangers are your typical story of the team that could hit well and had great pitching but has just run into some bad luck. After dropping the series to the Rays last Sunday, the Rangers stumbled in their next 6 games losing 4. Coming off a trio of series losses to the Rays, Blue Jays, and Indians, the Rangers just look forward to taking out their frustrations on the team with the best record in baseball. It will be the ultimate test for both the Rangers and the Orioles and will show who is the best team in the American League.
6.) Atlanta Braves (18-11):
-The Braves played decently this week going 4-3. The week started with losing 2 of 3 to the Phillies at home, but they went back on the road and got things going again in Colorado. The Braves swept the 3 game series thanks to an offensive explosion that saw them score no less then 7 runs in the 3 game series. The performance vaulted them to the top of the Majors in runs scored and much of that credit has to go to Freddie Freeman and the old wonder Chipper Jones. The corner infielders have been the balance of youth and experience combined for 14 RBI's in the 3 game span (Chipper did not play Sunday). The Braves are definitely for real and have to be licking their chops as they head to Chicago to take on the Cubs.
7.) St. Louis Cardinals (17-11):
-Your 2011 World Series Champions are simply firing on all cylinders right now and are showing that they may be better off without Albert Pujols, ok well I won't go that far. Never the less the offense is going full force right now with guys like Jon Jay leading the team with a 3.92 BA, RF Carlos Beltran atop the team leader board with 7 HR's, and David Freese doing it all with 24 RBI's. It has truly been a team effort and we haven't even got to the pitching yet. Lance Lynn has simply been a monster registering a stellar 1.6 ERA to match with his 5-0 record.  He isn't the only Cardinals pitcher contributing as Kyle Lohse also has a 2.11 ERA along with an equally impressive 4-1 record. The Cardinals appear to be one of the best teams in baseball, and have a great shot at defending their title.
8.) Cleveland Indians (15-11):
-Remember last season when the Indians were playing great baseball in the 1st half of the season, then cooled down in the 2nd half, well it's happening again. The Indians stand atop the AL Central at 15-11, and have won their past 3 series against the Angels, White Sox, and Rangers. While their pitching hasn't been stellar they have gotten contributions from Asdrubal Cabrera, Jason Kipnis, and Jack Hannahan. The Indians are still waiting on Carlos Santana to start finding his power stroke, but they still have to be happy with the direction they are header.
9.) Toronto Blue Jays (16-13):
-The team up north has hit some early bumps in this 2012 season. Jose Bautista still isn't hitting above .200 and Brett Lawrie hasn't seen his hot start to end the 2011 season carry over into this year. While the Jays offense continues to struggle, their pitching has surprisingly been effective. Most recently 22 year old righty Henderson Alvarez threw a Complete Game Shutout, and Brandon Morrow leads the team with a 2.38 ERA. The Jays are a team with a lot of potential if their pitching can keep it up, because we all know at some point this Jays offense will have a breakout game.
10.) New York Yankees (15-13):
-The Yankees didn't have the greatest week going 3-4 despite some nice performances by their hitters. AFter a 3 game series loss to the Orioles at home, the Bronx Bombers went out to Kansas City hoping to turn things around in a 4 game series. Instead, they walked out of KC with a series split and some devastating news on top of that. Their closer for the first time in nearly 20 years. Rivera tore the ACL in his knee after taking fly balls during warm ups as he has done throughout his career. It is a devastating blow not just for the Yankees bullpen, but for their clubhouse as well. The road ahead will be a long one for the Yankees, as they hope David Robertson can do enough to fill the void.

MLB Power Rankings Week 5

Overview

-A great week in baseball that saw the No.1 and No.2 Prospects (Bryce Harper and Mike Trout) get the Big Call to the Majors. Both players made their 2012 Debut Saturday, with Bryce Harper collecting his 1st hit on a double to CF, and later collecting his first RBI on a Sac Fly in the 9th. The bigger story though, is Dodgers CF Matt Kemp who hit a walk off HR in the 10th Saturday to give him 11 HR's on the year. Kemp is the Triple Crown leader with a .425 BA, 24 RBI's , and 11 HR's. In the American League the Rays had a great week winning 6 of their last 7 and taking the 3 game series in Arlington. A great week of baseball that showed us a glimpse of what the future of baseball holds.

By the Numbers:

20: Game Hitting streak by Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval to start the season. The streak set the franchise record, but was snapped Saturday against the Padres.

14: Strikeouts Saturday by Marlins SP Anibal Sanchez. Although Sanchez walked away with a ND

.90: Earned Run Average this season by Diamondbacks SP Joe Saunders.

9: Earned Runs by White Sox SP Phillip Humber Thursday against the Red Sox. Humber threw a perfect game last Saturday against the Mariners.

Power Rankings:

1.) Tampa Bay Rays (14-8)
-The Rays have been scorching hot this week winning 9 of their last 11 games, including taking the 3 game series against the Rangers this weekend. David Price has been stellar in his last 2 starts (2-0 17 1/3 IP 2 ER). Thanks to the hot streak the Rays have risen to the top of the AL East, and only 2 games back of the Rangers in the American League. The Rays may be one of the most underrated teams in baseball and if rookie SP Matt Moore can get it going, they could emerge as the best team in the American League.
2.) Texas Rangers (16-6)
-It may come to a surprise to some people that I have the Rangers in the No.2 spot behind the Rays. I give the Rays the slight edge just based on them taking the 3 game series in Arlington. The Rangers are still an Elite team and are getting even scarier with Yu Darvish finally settling into the majors and using his pitches. The biggest concern for the Rangers is Josh Hamilton leaving Sundays game with back stiffness, he is listed as Day to Day, but it is just proof of his inability to stay healthy. If Hamilton and the rest of the Rangers are healthy, they are still the No.1 or No.2 team in the American League.
3.) Los Angeles Dodgers (16-6):
-This may be the biggest surprise early on in the season, as the Dodgers hit 16-6 this type of success is simply insane. The man who should have been the MVP in 2011 Matt Kemp simply punished the ball in April smashing 11 Bombs to go along with 24 RBI's and a 4.25 BA. Fellow slugger Andre Ethier has found his own power stroke connecting with 5 HR's and 24 RBI's of his own. Ethier and Kemp have been the Dodgers offense, and as long as they keep raking, they will stay atop the National League.
4.) St. Louis Cardinals (14-8):
-The Defending World Series Champions have carried over their playoff success into the regular season. Even with Albert Pujols (now in LA) long gone and Chris Carpenter (shoulder) on the DL, the team has continued to play well. World Series MVP David Freese looks like a star with a .333 BA, 5 HR's and 20 RBI's. Adam Wainwright who missed all of 2011 still is trying to regain the magic. The real Ace of April for the Cardinals is Kyle Lohse who breezed through batters in route to a 4-0 record to go along with a 1.62 ERA and an even more impressive .84 WHIP. The Cardinals were the best team in baseball last year, and they are playing like it again in 2012.
5.) Atlanta Braves (14-8):
-After an 0-4 to start the season, the Braves have been scorching hot ever since. The offense has been solid with CF Michael Bourn hitting .344, RF Jason Heyward proving 2011 was just a sophomore slump, and 1B Freddie Freeman proving that the sophomore slump can't stop him. The rotation has also been excellent as Tommy Hanson has a 3.00 ERA, Brandon Beachy with a 1.05 ERA, and flame throwing Closer Craig Kimbrel leading the Majors in Saves (8). Things will only get better for the Braves as Tim Hudson came back on Sunday, and young guys like Julio Teheran ready at any moment for the call. There is no question the Braves are the best team in the NL East at this point.
6.) Washington Nationals (14-8):
-Another breakout team in 2012, and while many predicted the Nationals would be successful I'm not sure many had them doing it this quickly. Their rotation has been phenomenal with Stephen Strasburg (1.13 ERA 34 K's), Gio Gonzalez (1.82 ERA 34 K's), and Jordan Zimmerman (1.33 ERA) simply blowing through every batter they have faced. What makes it even crazier is the fact that the offense is struggling to provide run support for the trio. The solution, the Nationals hope it is super prospect Bryce Harper who not only will put fans in the seats but should give them a spark in the lineup.
7.) Baltimore Orioles (14-8):

-Raise your hand if you guessed the Orioles would be 14-8 to start the season, OK, keep your hand up if you thought they would be tied for 1st in their division. Nobody. The Orioles have been the biggest surprise so far in 2012 as they continue to find ways to win. C Matt Weiters and CF Adam Jones have been catalysts on offense, with little regarded Jason Hammel leading the team in ERA (1.73), Wins (3-0), and K's (25). I don' think the Orioles can keep the hot streak alive, but this will just build momentum for this young team.

8.) New York Yankees (12-9):

-The Bronx Bombers have been just that so far this year. Derek Jeter discovered the Fountain of Youth, hitting .396 on the year, to go along with a .440 OBP. Meanwhile Curtis Granderson is proving 2011 was not a fluke, as he has already blasted 8 HR's on the season, proving his new swing is where the power surge came from. What continues to hold the Yankees back is their rotation, C.C Sabathia has a 4.58 ERA, Hiroki Kuroda leads the team with a 4.38 ERA and that represents the better half of the Yankees rotation. The Yankees hoped Michael Pineda could come in and give them a boost, but he is still fighting to come back from shoulder discomfort.

9.) San Francisco Giants (12-10):
-After starting the season out being swept by the D-Backs and losing "The Beard' Brian Wilson only a week later the Giants have done a fine job bouncing back. 22 year old LHP Madison Bumgarner is 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA, Matt Cain has also been stellar with a 2.37 ERA, but the real story has been Barry Zito. After nearly losing his job in Spring Training Zito has found the Fountain of Youth with a 1.67 ERA through 4 starts.. The Giants offense isn't good but it is better then last year and if the team can continue to battle, they should be a playoff team.
10.) Detroit Tigers (11-11):
-After signing Prince Fielder few people didn't have the Tigers at the top of the American League, but 5 Weeks in the Tigers have been nothing short of a disappointment. Fielder and Miguel Cabrera have combined for 10 HR's and 31 RBI's (7 HR's and 20 RBI's from Miggy), while the rest of the Tigers offense has struggled to get anything going. Justin Verlander has been an Ace as always and rookie Drew Smyly leads the team with a 1.23 ERA. The duo of Miggy and Prince is the best in the NL, but if the Tigers want to be at the top they are going to need more of a team effort consistently.

Cain Cashes In

After 7 years of outstanding service, Matt Cain finally cashes in
with a record breaking contract.

1.338 Innings Pitched (including playoffs)
2x All Star
World Series Ring
3.35 Career ERA
1.20 Career WHIP

Those are just some of the numbers in the 7 year career of Giants No.2 Starting Pitcher Matt Cain. Cain, the longest tenured Giant (7 Years) was set to become a Free Agent in 2012 and was seeking a 5 Year deal worth more then $100 Million. Cain and his agent spent the off season going back and forth in negotiations with the Giants, before setting an April 6th Deadline to get a new deal done. Cain is set to make $15 Million in 2012, with the 5 year deal starting out in 2013. The contract will include a vesting option in 2018, meaning the deal could escalate up to a 7 year deal worth as much as $141 Million over 7 years. The contract also comes with a full no trade clause, meaning Cain can nix any deal he is involved in. Cain will make roughly $22.5 Million per year. Before the right hander agreed to the historic deal, the previous record for most money given to a RHP was Kevin Browns 7 Year/105 Million dollar deal in 1998 after signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cain was drafted by the Giants with the 25th Overall pick in the 2002 MLB Draft out of Houston High School in Tennessee. He spent 3 seasons in the minors before making his Major League Debut on August 29th, 2005 against the Colorado Rockies. Cain gave up only 2 Runs on 3 Hits over 5 innings, but walked away with the loss. The performance and result are an example of what Matt Cain has dealt with in his 7 year career as a Giant.  Despite his career 3.35 ERA, Cains' career record stands at (69-73) which to the casual baseball fan, Cain would appear to be just an average pitcher, but that's not the case with Matt Cain. In the past 3 seasons, Cain has never posted an ERA below 3.2 , while still averaging over 170 Strikeouts per season. The problem for Cain isn't his command, which he holds a career 1.2 WHIP (Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched), a 3.2 BB/9, and a 7.4 K/9 Rates. The problem is lack of run support, as for most of his career Cain has dealt with a lot of 2-1 and 1-0 losses. The biggest part of Cains' game is how reliable and capable he is as a workhorse pitcher. Cain has 5 straight seasons of 200+ Innings Pitched, and he has shown no signs of slowing down. In fact quite the opposite, when you compare his numbers from 2010 to 2011 Cain made big strides. In 2010 Cain recorded a 3.14 ERA, while this past season he recorded a career best 2.88 ERA (minimum 200 IP). While Cain is the Giants No.2 SP he is sitting behind 2x Cy Young Winner Tim Lincecum, but there is no question Cain could be the Ace for at least 10 teams in the Majors. Overall, Matt Cain is one of the most durable pitchers in all of baseball, and he is worth the money the Giants gave him, especially as he continues to improve.

Hamels, who becomes a FA after this season
is in for a big raise.

This deal not only is great news for Matt Cain, it also means a big pay day is coming for SP's like Cole Hamels, Zach Greinke and Cains' teammate Tim Lincecum. Let's start off with the guy who a lot of comparisons will be made to, Cole Hamels. The 28 year old lefty from Philadelphia will likely be the biggest name in the 2012 Free Agent class and should cash in big time. Hamels has similar numbers to Cain, and before this deal was seeking a similar 5 Year/100M dollar deal, now as a left hander and the only Elite SP on the market, that number is going to go up. After purchasing the Dodgers for 2 Billion in the offseason, ownership while be looking to make a big splash, and Hamels can be that guy. As for Brewers SP Zach Greinke, he is set to enter Free Agency after the 2012 season. Greinke is also 28 years old, and while he has a slightly higher ERA he will likely be seeking 100 Million as well. The biggest winner in all of this though is Giants Ace Tim Lincecum. Lincecum, also known as "The Freak" signed a 2 year extension with the Giants earlier in the offseason that will pay him 18 Million in 2012, and 20.5 Million in 2013. Once Lincecum becomes a Free Agent, the 2x Cy Young Award winner and 4x All Star will be seeking a reported $200 Million over 7 years. "The Freak" would become the first pitcher to ever surpass 200 Million. The question will be, who wants to give a 29 year old SP with a unique delivery and small frame, a record contract over a 7 year duration. It will be the headline story when it happens, but until it does the Giants can just relax knowing they no longer have to worry about losing both their stars in the near future.

MLB Season Preview

Overview:
-What an Off Season it was for Major League Baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals fresh off their 11th World Series in Club History. Only a few months later "The Machine"Albert Pujols left in Free Agency for the Halos in Los Angeles. He wasn't the only big time Free Agent to leave as C.J Wilson left the Texas Rangers to join Pujols in Los Angeles, and Prince Fielder left the Brew City to join Miguel Cabrera in Motor City. With all the big additions and subtractions made across the MLB this year, we will be in for another lively year of baseball.

Legends in Heaven:
  
       

Bob Forsch (1950-2011)

Andy Musser (1937-2012)

Gary Carter (1954-2012)

Matty Alou (1938-2011)

NL West:

If the Giants want to get back to the World Series, they
will have to hope Buster Posey can come back and make an impact

*1.) San Francisco Giants: (92-70)
2011 Record: (86-76) 2nd in NL West
Team Preview: 
-The 2010 World Series Champions struggled in 2011 both with injuries and on offense. The 2010 Rookie of the Year Buster Posey broke his leg in a plate collision early in the season that left a controversy among everyone in baseball. Their slugger from last year Aubrey Huff fell flat as did the rest of the Giants Offense. As a result of the
putrid offense, many fantastic performances by Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Madison Bumgarner were wasted. Now in 2012 the Giants will have a healthy Buster Posey, a top hitting 3B in Pablo Sandoval, and new additions in the OF with Melky Cabrera (.305 BA, 18 HR's 87 RBI's in 2011) and Angel Pagan can provide a serviceable offense. If the Giants offense can manage to rank in the middle of the pack in the National League, they could be contenders for the NL.

*2.) Arizona Diamondbacks: (90-72)
     2011 Record: (94-68) 1st in NL West
Team Preview:
-The Diamondbacks were the surprise team in the National League in 2011. Led by Cy Young finalist Ian Kennedy and All Star OF Justin Upton, the Diamondbacks rolled through the NL West in route to a 94 win season and their first playoff trip since 2007. Many things went right for the Diamondbacks, including their bullpen stepping up and the front of their rotation having big years. As the Diamondbacks prepare for the 2012 season there will be a larger target on their backs, and it will be on the rotation to repeat their performance from last year. One thing is for sure, the Diamondbacks will once again be in contention for the National League.

3.) Los Angeles Dodgers:  (84-78)
     2011 Record: (82-79) 3rd in NL West
Team Preview:
-The Dodgers were for the longest time always near the top of the NL West and making the Giants-Dodgers Rivalry ever so greater as both teams competed for the NL West Crown. However in the past few years there coming in at the bottom of the division and not competing. In 2011 the storyline was the McCourts, and the dynamic duo of Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw. Matt Kemp had a career year hitting 39 HR's while driving in 126 RBI's, and Ace Clayton Kershaw walked away with the NL Cy Young Award. As the Dodgers enter Spring Training they will be looking for a return to the promise land. Even though I don't think they are close enough yet, they are finally putting the pieces back in place.

4.) Colorado Rockies: (80-82)

     2011 Record: (73-89) 4th in NL West

Team Preview:

-The Rockies entered the 2011 season looking as a legitimate threat to compete for the NL West. Ubaldo Jimenez was coming off an impressive year and they had high hopes for Jorge De La Rosa. Unfortunately for the Rockies, very few things went right. De La Rosa had Tommy John Surgery early in the year, Ubaldo fell short of expectations and was shipped to Cleveland for top prospects. The Rockies spent the off season adding more bats across the lineup. The additions of Michael Cuddyer and Marco Scutaro will help solid the Rockies hitting. How well the Rockies will do, comes down to how De La Rosa, Chacin and the rest of the rotation fare.


5.) San Diego Padres (67-95)
     2011 Season: (71-91) 5th in NL West
Team Preview:
-The Padres were the biggest surprise in 2010. They came 1 game behind the World Series Champion Giants, and they were still a very young squad. However when they traded Adrian Gonzalez their team took a big hit. Their offense lacked any punch last year and because of it they only reached 71 Wins, and that was after they traded Heath Bell and Mike Adams. Now as the Padres head into 2012 they traded their Staff Ace Mat Latos for more prospects and up and comers. Needless to say it is going be a rebuilding year for the Padres, and they would be lucky to crack 70 Wins.

MLB Trade Deadline: OFFICIAL Trade Recaps

Trade Timeline

7/30 to 7/31

Texas Rangers trade:
Tommy Hunter SP Age: 25
Chris Davis 1B Age: 25

Baltimore Orioles trade:
Koji Uehara RP Age: 36
Cash Considerations

Trade Review:
The Rangers were in desperate need of a Set Up man, and someone who could replace Neftali Feliz if he continues to struggle. Uehera was having a career year with the Orioles posting a 1.69 ERA in 48 relief innings. He bolsters a Rangers bullpen that needed help badly, and he will help them in the playoffs. The Orioles got two 25 year olds who have seen their stock fall in recent years. Davis was once a top prospect after tearing up AAA pitching, but has since been shut down in the Majors, by pitchers. The potential is still there for him to be a good power bat, and maybe a change of scenery will do him good. Tommy Hunter has been pitching out of the pen, after being unable to prove himself enough to make it into the roation. He has decent stuff and should slide right in to a weak Orioles rotation.

Winner: Texas Rangers


Cleveland Indians trade:
Alex White SP Age: 22 (DL)
Joseph Gardner Akron Aeros SP (AA)
Matt McBride Akron Aeros 1B (AA)
Drew Pomeranz Akron Aeros SP (AA)

Colorado Rockies trade:
Ubaldo Jimenez SP Age: 27

Trade Review:
The Indians are finally in the playoff hunt, and if they want to make it in the Playoffs they are going to need a Stud pitcher. After a historical 1st half in 2010 Ubaldo has cooled down in 2011 posting a 4.46 ERA on the season. He does play in Coors Field which hurts his ERA, and should see a slight boost in numbers playing in Cleveland. The Rockies pulled in 4 very good prospects. Alex White and Drew Pomeranz both could develop into important pieces in a rotation, and Matt McBride also has potential as a 1B. It was a solid haul for a Rockies team that looked like Contenders before the season.

Winner: Colorado Rockies

Fantasy Analysis:
Ubaldo Jimenez: Now that he is leaving the terrible Coors field, Ubaldo should see a drop in HR's and ERA. He has had problems with his velocity this year, which has also resulted in the stat drop. Now joining the Indians, he gets a slight bump in value, but is nowhere near his 1st half 2010 form.

Should the All-Star game impact the World Series?

The 1st two games of the World Series will be in the NL, making
it a real possibility a NL team wins the 2011 World Series

For the second year in a row the National League handled the depleted American League to win the 2011 All Star Game in Arizona, and lock up home-field advantage in the World Series. Last year the Giants saw huge benefits from playing the 1st 2 games at home winning them both, giving them a crucial 2-0 lead going into Arlington. The Giants ended up winning the World Series in 5 games in large part because of their dominant pitching, but also thanks to that July 13th game in Anaheim, which gave them the crucial first 2 games at home in the World Series. The question still remains, should an exhibition All Star game,  a game in which key players don't show up, be so important that it can effect the result of the World Series

 In 2003 Bud Selig and the MLB Players Union agreed to a temporary deal through 2003-'04 that would award home field advantage in the World Series, to whichever team won the All Star game. After two years it was extended for the 2005 and 2006 season, where it was made permanent thereafter. The rule has faced countless criticism since it was made permanent, with opposing sides saying that it home field advantage should be based off who has the better record, not who wins an exhibition game, where 1/2 the players don't go due to injury, or personal reasons. It has been brought up countless times by members of the media, often going unanswered or with the common answer of "the system works fine as it is now". It is a question that has many arguments, but you are either for it or against it, and I am against it

 Starting the first two games of the World Series at home can be the two most crucial games of the series. If the home team sweeps at home and heads into Game 3 with a 2-0 series lead, it is nearly a lock they will end up as World Series Champs. It happened with the Giants last year playing at AT&T Park, taking both games and going on to win Game 3 and Game 5 in Arlington. In fact of the past 25 World Series the team with Home field advantage won 22 out of the 25 times. The difference between an AL team going on the road and having to decide what to do with their current DH, leaves them with a critical problem. While in the NL going to a team in the American League and deciding who to play as your DH and how to handle a more powerful lineup for your pitcher, is also difficult as well. An entire series that decides who is the best team in baseball is effected by a meaningless exhibition game in early July.

 The rule has been in play since 2003 and we likely won't see any change until Bud Selig is no longer Commissioner of baseball, but it is a rule that should be changed. If baseball wants to establish a reasonable more fair system giving home field advantage to whichever team has the better record is the best way to do it. There is a reason no other professional sport makes its All Star game about changing the result of the Championship just so it can seem important. The All Star game is for the fans to watch all their favorite players at once and put the best against the once a year. There should be no reason for it to effect the World Series, and the sooner a change is made, the better.

MLB Mid-Season Review

We have reached the half way point in the 2011 baseball season and we have already seen 2 no-hitter, two members from the Defending World Series Champions lost for the year, and so much more. Lets take a look and hand out our mid season awards



American League

AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez 1B, Boston Red Sox (.361 BA 16 HR's 71 RBI's)
-The case for mid season MVP could be made for either Gonzalez or Jose Bautista (.328 BA 23 HR's) who has continued to mash HR's with ease. The main factor is Most Valuable and even though Gonzalez only has 16 HR's, he leads the AL in BA and in RBI's.

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander SP, Detroit Tigers: (10-3 2.38 ERA 124 K's 1 no-hitter)
-The AL Cy Young for the 1st half of the season goes to Justin Verlander. While Rays SP James Shields is a close second it is difficult to compete with Verlander who has been almost unhittable in the month of June going 8 IP+ in his last 5 starts. He had one no-hitter earlier in the year, and fell short of another one in the 8th.

AL Rookie of the Year: Michael Pineda SP, Seattle Mariners (7-4 2.45 ERA 94 K's)
-While there is some competition for A.L ROY it is hard to say no to 22 year old Michael Pineda. He doesn't have a great record but that can be blamed on playing for the Mariners. Even with the lack of wins he is in the Top 5 ERA leaders in the American League as a rookie. He has been great the whole year and the pairing of Felix Hernandez and Pineda sets the mariners up with a dynamic duo for the future.

AL Manager of the Year: Manny Acta Cleveland Indians (41-36)
-Even after the Indians recent collapse it is hard to ignore the impressive job Manny Acta has done this year with a young team. The young rotation the Indians had have struggled recently and the offense is only getting production from Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera. He likely won't win AL Manager of the year when the season ends but his teams early performance gets him the mid season award.