Last season recap:
The New York Yankees jumped off to a quick 11-3 start to the season, but faced a rough patch in May, full of losing series’ and slid to 29-20. However, the Yankees are the Yankees and broke the door down in June with a 10-3 stretch to start June, and an 8-1 stretch right before the All-Star break to go 56-32 overall. The Yankees were ahead of the Rays and looking at the best record in baseball at 86-50 on September 4th. Yet, a 2-8 run after that and more losses down the stretch ruined their chance at an AL East divisional title, but they still locked up the AL wild card. In the playoffs, the Yankees smoked the Minnesota Twins in three games, before matching up with the Texas Rangers in the ALCS. The Yankees slipped up and lost the series 4-2, after their hitting disappeared against the Rangers’ strong pitching.
Current starters:
Catcher: Russell Martin
Four seasons ago, Russell Martin was considered one of the best up-and-coming catchers in baseball. He had a .293 batting average with 19 home runs and 21 stolen bases. However, after an encore of injuries such as a torn labrum in his hip and offseason knee surgeries, Martin hasn’t been the same hitter since. Last year, Martin was .248/.347/.332 with five home runs, 26 RBIs, and six stolen bases in 97 games. Although Martin has been on a downward spiral in his career, the Yankees acquisition of him is thought to be the fill-in catcher before prospect Jesus Montero reaches the Majors. Manager Joe Girardi is a former catcher, and it will be seen how positive of an effect he can have on Martin.
First Base: Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira is one of the elite first basemen in the game. He is a terrific fielder (four Gold Gloves), but he is notoriously known as a slow starter to the season, which prevents his offensive numbers to be in the same range as Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder. Last season Teixeira hit .256/.365/.481 with 33 home runs and 93 RBIs. His batting average was the lowest of his career, and his on-base and slugging percentages were the second lowest. Those numbers can partially be attributed to his slow April where Teixeira hit .136 with two home runs in 81 at-bats. Another reason that his averages have struggled are the number of curveballs that he is being thrown. Teixeira has a .322 batting average against fastballs but only an .169 batting average against curveballs (against right-handed pitching). The Yankees hitting coach is working especially hard with Teixeira in the effort to get him past his early season struggles, and make him more of an elite hitter throughout the entire season.
Second Base: Robinson Cano
Cano capped off arguably the best season of his career last year, and he hopes to improve upon it this season. His 2010 campaign provided a .319/.381/.534 with 29 home runs and 109 RBIs (all career highs except for batting average). The Yankees have to be extra proud of his numbers against the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays. Against the Red Sox, Cano hit .371/.444/.543 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 70 at-bats, while against the Rays he hit .378/.403/.662 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 74 at-bats. If he can repeat those numbers in 2011, he will provide a big piece of the puzzle to a possible AL East divisional title.
Third Base: Alex Rodriguez
Although Alex Rodriguez put up great numbers for an average player, Rodriguez had one of the worst seasons of his career statistically. He sported the lowest batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage in his career since 1995. Last year, Rodriguez hit .270/.341/.506 with 30 home runs and 125 RBIs. Rodriguez regressed against left-handed pitcher compared to his previous years as he only hit .217 last season with six home runs in 143 at-bats. The Yankees are hoping that age (35) isn’t catching up with Rodriguez, who will be a vital piece to their World Series hopes this season.
Shortstop: Derek Jeter
Brian Cashman’s assessment of Derek Jeter moving to the outfield, and his reluctance to sign Jeter in the offseason was due to Jeter having the worst statistical season of his career. Jeter hit .270/.340/.370 with 10 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases. All of the hitting averages were the lowest in a full season that Jeter has ever played. Jeter had awful numbers against right-handers .246/.316/.317 and on the road .246/.317/.317. Jeter’s power was drained in the second half of last season, only two home runs and 24 RBIs in 298 at-bats, show legitimate cause that Jeter isn’t the same player that he was. Jeter is 36 years old and just has signed a four-year deal this offseason, but the Yankees will be looking at every out clause if he struggles again this year.
Left Field: Brett Gardner
Brett Gardner was fantastic in his role on the Yankees last season, and they hope that he can expand on it this year. Gardner hit .277/.383/.379 with five home runs, 47 RBIs, 79 walks and 47 stolen bases. Gardner’s speed is a huge advantage for the Yankees and their plethora of power hitters. Gardner has the potential to be a better hitter as he hit all of his home runs before the All-Star break last year, and he hit .309/.396/.415. However, one place that Gardner struggles is against off-speed pitching (.214 batting average against curveballs and .160 against change-ups).
Center Field: Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson performed well in his first season in New York, but left room for improvement in 2011. Last year Granderson hit .247/.324/.468 with 24 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. Granderson struggled against left-handers .234/.292/.354 with only four home runs and 12 RBIs in 158 at-bats, and he must improve if he wants to be an everyday outfielder. Granderson played significantly better in the second half of last season, and the Yankees are hoping that trend continues as he becomes more accumulated in playing in New York.
Right Field: Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher had the best season of his Major League career, as he hit .288/.359/.511 with 29 home runs and 89 RBIs. Swisher provides the most power out of all the outfielders and makes him a regular everyday starter. One point of emphasis that Swisher needs to work on is his recognition of off-speed pitches. Last season Swisher had a .108 batting average against curveballs from right-handed pitchers and .143 against left-handers. If Swisher can add his power to more than fastballs, Swisher will be thought of more than a third power option in the Yankee lineup.
DH: Jorge Posada
The 39-year-old Posada has finally outgrown the catcher position and will be more of a DH this year. Last year Posada hit .248/.357/.454 with 18 home runs, 57 RBIs, and three stolen bases (career high in stolen bases). Posada was significantly worse on the road than at Yankee Stadium last year, as he hit .205/.332/.362 (compared to .288/.382/.540 at home). Posada was awful against curveballs last year, and as his career dwindles down, the Yankees are hoping that they can squeeze a year or two more out of him.
Rotation:
1. CC Sabathia
CC Sabathia made a strong case for AL Cy Young last season, but Felix Hernandez had different plans. Also, Sabathia made a strong case for his friend Cliff Lee to join the Yankees rotation this year, but that didn’t happen either. 2011 should be about what Sabathia can deliever for a Yankee club that needs him more than ever. Last year, Sabathia went 21-7 with 3.18/1.19/.239 with 197 strikeouts in 237.2 innings. However, the downside to Sabathia’s season was his performance in the postseason. Sabathia was 3-3 with a 5.63 ERA, which led to the Yankees’ dismissal from the playoffs. The Yankees are hoping that his postseason numbers will improve dramatically this year.
2. A.J. Burnett
Burnett had one of his worst professional seasons last year, and that’s not going to help him in New York. Last year, Burnett went 10-15 with 5.26/1.51/.285 with 145 strikeouts in 186.2 innings. Burnett was horrendous on the road last season going 5-8 with a 5.76 ERA and a .290 batting average against him. Also, after the All-Star break, Burnett went 3-8 with a 5.95 ERA. The Yankees’ offensive lineup is one of the best in baseball, but they can’t afford for their rotation to be in shambles. Hitters hit Burnett’s fastball for a .284 batting average, and that must go down this season for him to improve.
3. Phil Hughes
Phil Hughes was one of the most successful prospects in the Yankees’ always limited farm system, making Brian Cashman feeling proud of Hughes’ success last year. Last season Hughes went 18-8 with 4.19/1.25/.244 with 146 strikeouts in 176.1 innings. This year may be the year that the Yankees take the pitching limit off Hughes, and let the 24-year-old star show his true potential. However, a case that they may keep Hughes’ pitch count low is the fact that he was significantly worse in the second half of the season. After the All-Star break, Hughes was 7-6 with a 4.90 ERA, compared to an 11-2 record and 3.65 ERA in the first half. The Yankees are hoping that Hughes will return to the first half pitcher that they saw last year.
4. Andy Pettitte
Yes, I’m making the prediction that Pettitte will return for the 2011 season, due to the fact that he is working out and hasn’t completely ruled it out. The Yankees need Pettitte to return for a chance at a World Series title, and Pettitte can’t be happy with how last season turned out. Pettitte was 11-3 last year with 3.28/1.27/.257 with a 7.05 K/9. Although Pettitte didn’t pitch much in the second half last season, I could see a situation where Pettitte joins the Yankees halfway through the year. If Pettitte returns this season, the Yankees will be a strong contender for the World Series.
5. Ivan Nova
The fifth spot in the rotation is up in the air but Ivan Nova has to be the odds-on favorite to grab it. Nova started seven games last year to go 1-2 with 4.50/1.45/.268 with a 5.57 K/9. Nova’s best start came against the Chicago White Sox where he went 5.1 innings to give up five hits, one earned run, and seven strikeouts in his first victory. In the minor leagues, Nova went 12-3 with a 2.86 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 145 innings. Nova has a lot of potential, and with the help of the Yankees’ lineup, he should be able to adjust well.
Bullpen (closer: Mariano Rivera):
One of the primary strengths this season for the New York Yankees will be their bullpen. Mariano Rivera returns after a great season, even at the age of 40. Last season Rivera was 3-3 with 1.80/0.83/.183, 33 saves (five blown), and a 6.75 K/9. However, a sign of troubles is that Rivera had a bad second half of the season as he went 1-2 with a 2.81 ERA and .240 opponent batting average against him compared to a 2-1 with a 1.05 ERA and .137 in the first half of the season. The Yankees biggest offseason acquisition was Rafael Soriano, who they paid big money to be their setup man. Soriano was amazing last year going 3-2 with 1.73/0.80/.163, 45 saves (three blown), and a 8.23 K/9. Soriano has the potential to be an elite closer, let alone setup man, and although it was a bad contract, Soriano is a great addition to the ballclub. Also, Sergio Mitre (0-3, 3.33/1.09/.223, and a 4.83 K/9), Damaso Marte (4.08/1.19/.161 and nine holds), and Joba Chamberlain (3-4, 4.40/1.30/.253, and 26 holds) are great pitchers to secure leads at the end of games.
Crystal Ball:
The Yankees are entering the season after their quietest offseason in my recent memory. The lineup of Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, and Robinson Cano will always be able to produce a number of runs, and their bullpen should be able to hold those leads together. However, will the starting pitching staff be good enough to help the Yankees win a World Series? Take CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes out of the equation, and the Yankees could be in trouble, especially if Andy Pettitte doesn’t return this season. The Yankees will be a good team, but will they be great?
Next Up: Boston Red Sox
Previous Teams:
Tampa Bay Rays
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
2011 MLB Preview: Tampa Bay Rays
*Writers Note: This will be my MLB team previews, where I will preview all 30 MLB teams before the season begins March 31, the San Francisco Giants versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. I will give my opinion and predictions on the upcoming season. The order of preview will be determined by last season’s regular season record (division by division, starting with the AL East). The depth charts I use may be different than the way it opens in March or April, but I’m working with the current rosters as of my writing dates.
The statistics I use will be as follows: batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage. An example would be Joe Mauer (.327/.402/.469). For pitchers it will be as follows: Earned run average/WHIP/opposing batting average. An example would be Francisco Liriano (3.62/1.26/.252). I’m still a novice with Fangraphs data, however, I will be writing with InsideEdge statistics and home/away splits [among other splits].
After the end of my 30 previews, I will give an entire MLB preview, including my bold predictions for the upcoming season. Thanks for reading and feel free to comment on any team preview. I can always use a good, insightful argument.
Last season recap:
The Rays reached a monumental point last season, as they were in the midst of a possible transition. They knew they would be unable to keep superstar Carl Crawford after this season (as he has landed with the rival Red Sox), but were they going to trade him halfway through the season if they struggled out of the gate? However, they never needed to worry about it as they jumped off to a 17-6 start in April, and were instantly contenders to compete in the most difficult division in baseball. The momentum continued to pile through May, until they reached a rough stretch in June with a 5-12 record between June 10th- June 29th. Right with the momentum swinging, the Rays turned ship by going on a 10-2 streak into the All-Star game. The Rays played well enough to decide to keep Crawford throughout the season, and it led to the Rays winning the AL East, ending the reign owned by rivals New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. The Rays entered the playoffs against upbeat Texas Rangers and lost the series 3-2, after losing two of the games by the hands of Cliff Lee.
Current starters:
Catcher: John Jaso
Jaso is a relatively unknown catcher, as he is only an average hitter but much better defensively. He played in 109 games last year, hitting .263/.372/.378, five home runs, 44 RBIs, and twenty more walks than strikeouts. It’s always a good sign to see a young hitter gaining more walks than strikeouts, but his hitting against left-handers was atrocious. Against lefties Jaso has a .191 batting average with only nine hits in 47 at-bats. To be an everyday catcher, Jaso will have to improve on hitting against both handed pitchers.
First Base: Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson had the tale of two cities last year, as his performance was dramatically different in the minor leagues than the Majors. In his 40 games in the Majors, Johnson hit .198/.343/.414 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs. In his 98 games in the minor leagues, Johnson hit .303/.430/.624 with 30 home runs and 95 RBIs. If Johnson can transfer his minor league success to the Majors, the Rays will have a great duo on the corners with Johnson and Longoria.
Second Base: Sean Rodriguez
Last season was Sean Rodriguez’s first full season in the Majors, and he saved himself plenty of room for improvement next year. Rodriguez hit an abysmal .251/.308/.397 with nine home runs, 40 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. Rodriguez hit .221 against fastballs and .261 against change-ups (.364 against right-handed change-ups), but struggled mightily against curves (.174) and sliders (.150). Although Rodriguez is a good fielder, he must improve hitting this season.
Third Base: Evan Longoria
One of the most underpaid players in the game right now, as he is considered in the top-10 of current players. Longoria deserves the high praise that he has received by hitting .294/.372/.507 with 22 home runs, 104 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Longoria had a batting average of .317 against fastball last season but has to improve upon hitting outside off-speed pitching. The key to this season is that he will have more protection in the lineup with the addition of Manny Ramirez. If Ramirez still has thunder in his bat, you can bet that Longoria will have a tremendous season, and show fans why he is the most underpaid player in baseball after signing a $45 million extension, instead of waiting for a hefty pay day.
Shortstop: Ben Zobrist
Ben Zobrist is one of the most versatile baseball players in the league, as he played games at six different positions last season. However, he struggled at the plate compared to his 2009 campaign by only hitting .238/.346/.353 last season with 10 home runs, 75 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. If Zobrist can return to his 2009 stats of nearly a .300 average and 20+ home runs, he will help carry the weight of Carl Crawford’s absence. For unknown reasons, Zobrist hit much better on the road last year, and the Rays really need him to be able to become a more important factor this season.
Left Field: Johnny Damon
The Rays are hoping that Damon can lessen the blow of the loss of Carl Crawford. Although, Damon is not the fielder that he once was and is probably better suited for DH, he will have to be playing in the field about four-five games a week, with the Rays addition of Manny Ramirez. Damon doesn’t have the athleticism that he displayed earlier in his career, but he can still be a decent hitter. Damon hit .271/.355/.401 with eight home runs (lowest since 2001), 51 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases (RBIs and stolen bases are lowest since his rookie season in 1995, where he only played in 47 games). Damon can provide a strong veteran presence in the clubhouse, but will he be able to produce enough to warrant a starting outfield spot?
Center Field: B.J. Upton
B.J. Upton has to be making a case for the most promising player that is underachieving right now. He had an unbelievable 2007 season in which he it for a .300 batting average along with 24 home runs and 82 RBIs. However, he hasn’t been able to play at that level since. Last year, Upton hit .237/.322/.424 with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, and 42 stolen bases. Upton’s struggles were shown on the highest stage in the playoffs where he hit for a .190 batting average (4 for 21). Upton hit significantly better against left-handed pitching (.278/.381/.538 vs. .218/.294/.371 against right-handers). For the Rays, if they have any chance to repeat as division champions, Upton is going to have become a better hitter for average and power.
Right Field: Desmond Jennings
Jennings spent nearly all of last season in the minor leagues, but he has been hailed as the heir to Carl Crawford’s role in the outfield. Jennings hit .278/.362/.393 with three home runs, 36 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases at Triple-A Durham. Jennings struggles against left-handed pitching .198/.343/.291 and only one home run in 86 at-bats. Another concern is the splits of home and away, and before and after the All-Star break. Jennings was significantly better at home than on the road (.451 slugging percentage at home compared to .332 on the road; and he was hitting .297/.375/.419 before the All-Star break compared to .253/.345/.359 afterwards). The Rays are going to go through their rookie struggles with Jennings, but his potential is endless as he has the potential to steal 40 bases, and gain a .400 on-base percentage.
DH: Manny Ramirez
The Rays made a splash by signing Manny Ramirez for primarily DH duties, as he once was one of the most feared sluggers in baseball. Unfortunately, Ramirez hasn’t been the same hitter since he was suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. Last season, Ramirez spent the season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox. Overall, Ramirez hit .298/.409/.460 with nine home runs, 42 RBIs, and 46 walks. However, his splits between the Dodgers and White Sox are drastically different. Ramirez’s slugging percentage with the Dodgers was .510, while it was only .319 with the White Sox (one home run in 69 at-bats). The Rays have to be praying that Ramirez can pull a Vladimir Guerrero, and show the world that he has more left in the tank, but critics have pointed at Ramirez’s diminishing skills for a couple of years now. Ramirez still is a strong fastball hitter, but he isn’t as effective against off-speed pitches as he used to be. On the Rays, his primary duty will be protecting Evan Longoria, and the Rays need him to do so, if they hope to repeat as AL East champions.
Rotation:
1. David Price
When David Price emerged on the national scene in 2008 with his strong relief duties in the playoffs, fans knew they were viewing the next superstar pitcher. Price didn’t fail to deliver. Price was named the AL starting pitcher of the All-Star game in his best season of his professional career. Last season Price went 19-6 with 2.72/1.19/.221 and 188 strikeouts in 208.2 innings. However, Price struggled in the playoffs against the Texas Rangers, and was twice upstaged by Cliff Lee, which should drive him to pitch better in 2011. Price was dominant at home in the regular season by going 9-2 and a 1.96 ERA. Another strong statistic was that Price remained the same before and after the All-Star game, which is tough for a young pitcher to show strong consistency. Price uses his fastball 73% of the time, with a strong slider that is used 18% of the time, but he is still developing his change-up and curve, which would give him a greater plethora of tools against hitters. Rays are expecting that Price has another strong showing this year, as are the rest of the opposing hitters that he will face.
2. James Shields
James Shields had a strong season, although his 13-15 record won’t show for it. Shields had a 5.18/1.46/.294 last season including 187 strikeouts in 203.1 innings for a 8.28 K/9. The problems for Shields were magnified after the All-Star break where he sported a 5.59 ERA. Shields has a devastating change-up but his fastball has become too hittable, which lessens the effect of his change-up and forces him behind in too many counts. The Rays survived an average James Shields last year, but they have to be hoping that he can pick up the slack this season after the Red Sox revamped their lineup, to make the AL East that much tougher.
3. Wade Davis
Wade Davis’ first full season was a success. Davis went 12-10 with 4.07/1.35/.255 and 113 strikeouts in 168 innings. A strong sign for the future of Davis was the success he showed after the All-Star break. Davis went 6-1 with a 3.28 ERA after the break, and with a higher inning total this season, Davis should be on the verge of a breakout season. Also, Davis was much better on the road than at home, by going 6-3 with a 3.94 ERA on the road, and 6-7 with a 4.18 ERA at home. Another sign that Davis is poised for the big stage was his success against the AL East last season, as he sported a winning record against all of the teams, except the Red Sox. If Davis can progress from last season, the Rays will have two future stars in Davis and David Price.
4. Jeremy Hellickson
The Rays are hoping that they have found the next David Price superstar in Jeremy Hellickson. Throughout his season in the minor leagues and his brief appearances in the Majors, Hellickson has impressed thus far. At Triple-A Durham last season, Hellickson went 12-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 117.2 innings. Hellickson won tons of accolades for his success in the minors last season, and he also translated it to the Majors. In his 10 appearances (four starts) Hellickson was 4-0 with 3.47/1.10/.232 and 33 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. What has the Rays salivating over the potential of Hellickson? The starts that he made in August were fantastic. Here are the lines of his four starts:
Aug. 2 vs. Minnesota: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Aug. 10 vs. Detroit: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Aug. 15 vs. Baltimore: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Aug. 20 vs. Oakland: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
If Hellickson can slide his minor league numbers over to the Majors this season, the Rays will be tremendously happy as they may be atop the division and smart after they parted with Matt Garza.
5. Jeff Niemann
Jeff Niemann has to be happy that the Rays traded away Garza, because he may not be in the rotation if he remained on the Rays. Niemann went 12-8 last season with 4.39/1.26/.242 and 131 strikeouts in 174.1 innings. Niemann was awesome before the All-Star break but wasn’t the same after. Before the break, Niemann was 7-2 with a 2.77 ERA, but he struggled afterwards going 5-6 with a 7.69 ERA. If he can end the season stronger than he did last season, the Rays will be smiling all season with a strong rotation.
Bullpen (closer: Jake McGee):
After Rafael Soriano bolted for the Yankees, the Rays are hoping that their bullpen will still be able to hold late inning leads. Jake McGee is projected to be closer, although he only recorded one save at Triple-A Durham last season. McGee had a strong K/9, but will he be able to handle the pressure of closing games? Recently, the Rays signed the inconsistent Kyle Farnsworth, which could be the signing of the off-season if he pans out, however he will be labeled a failure after his struggles as a Yankee. Andy Sonnanstine will remain the team’s long reliever, as he did a decent job in that position last year. Overall, the Rays have a lot of low-paid relievers, but they need them to be dominant all season if they are to compete with the Red Sox and Yankees for the divisional title.
Crystal Ball:
The Rays shocked the world by winning the division last season over the Yankees and the Red Sox. However, all of their key free agents (Crawford and Soriano) went back to the super powers in the East and the Rays are going to have to rely on talent from their farm system to keep close with the high rollers. Jeremy Hellickson should be a star, but I predict struggles for Desmond Jennings. It should be an interesting roller coaster for the Rays, as they are one of the youngest teams in baseball, but I don’t see a repeat coming as divisional champions.
The statistics I use will be as follows: batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage. An example would be Joe Mauer (.327/.402/.469). For pitchers it will be as follows: Earned run average/WHIP/opposing batting average. An example would be Francisco Liriano (3.62/1.26/.252). I’m still a novice with Fangraphs data, however, I will be writing with InsideEdge statistics and home/away splits [among other splits].
After the end of my 30 previews, I will give an entire MLB preview, including my bold predictions for the upcoming season. Thanks for reading and feel free to comment on any team preview. I can always use a good, insightful argument.
Last season recap:
The Rays reached a monumental point last season, as they were in the midst of a possible transition. They knew they would be unable to keep superstar Carl Crawford after this season (as he has landed with the rival Red Sox), but were they going to trade him halfway through the season if they struggled out of the gate? However, they never needed to worry about it as they jumped off to a 17-6 start in April, and were instantly contenders to compete in the most difficult division in baseball. The momentum continued to pile through May, until they reached a rough stretch in June with a 5-12 record between June 10th- June 29th. Right with the momentum swinging, the Rays turned ship by going on a 10-2 streak into the All-Star game. The Rays played well enough to decide to keep Crawford throughout the season, and it led to the Rays winning the AL East, ending the reign owned by rivals New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. The Rays entered the playoffs against upbeat Texas Rangers and lost the series 3-2, after losing two of the games by the hands of Cliff Lee.
Current starters:
Catcher: John Jaso
Jaso is a relatively unknown catcher, as he is only an average hitter but much better defensively. He played in 109 games last year, hitting .263/.372/.378, five home runs, 44 RBIs, and twenty more walks than strikeouts. It’s always a good sign to see a young hitter gaining more walks than strikeouts, but his hitting against left-handers was atrocious. Against lefties Jaso has a .191 batting average with only nine hits in 47 at-bats. To be an everyday catcher, Jaso will have to improve on hitting against both handed pitchers.
First Base: Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson had the tale of two cities last year, as his performance was dramatically different in the minor leagues than the Majors. In his 40 games in the Majors, Johnson hit .198/.343/.414 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs. In his 98 games in the minor leagues, Johnson hit .303/.430/.624 with 30 home runs and 95 RBIs. If Johnson can transfer his minor league success to the Majors, the Rays will have a great duo on the corners with Johnson and Longoria.
Second Base: Sean Rodriguez
Last season was Sean Rodriguez’s first full season in the Majors, and he saved himself plenty of room for improvement next year. Rodriguez hit an abysmal .251/.308/.397 with nine home runs, 40 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. Rodriguez hit .221 against fastballs and .261 against change-ups (.364 against right-handed change-ups), but struggled mightily against curves (.174) and sliders (.150). Although Rodriguez is a good fielder, he must improve hitting this season.
Third Base: Evan Longoria
One of the most underpaid players in the game right now, as he is considered in the top-10 of current players. Longoria deserves the high praise that he has received by hitting .294/.372/.507 with 22 home runs, 104 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Longoria had a batting average of .317 against fastball last season but has to improve upon hitting outside off-speed pitching. The key to this season is that he will have more protection in the lineup with the addition of Manny Ramirez. If Ramirez still has thunder in his bat, you can bet that Longoria will have a tremendous season, and show fans why he is the most underpaid player in baseball after signing a $45 million extension, instead of waiting for a hefty pay day.
Shortstop: Ben Zobrist
Ben Zobrist is one of the most versatile baseball players in the league, as he played games at six different positions last season. However, he struggled at the plate compared to his 2009 campaign by only hitting .238/.346/.353 last season with 10 home runs, 75 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. If Zobrist can return to his 2009 stats of nearly a .300 average and 20+ home runs, he will help carry the weight of Carl Crawford’s absence. For unknown reasons, Zobrist hit much better on the road last year, and the Rays really need him to be able to become a more important factor this season.
Left Field: Johnny Damon
The Rays are hoping that Damon can lessen the blow of the loss of Carl Crawford. Although, Damon is not the fielder that he once was and is probably better suited for DH, he will have to be playing in the field about four-five games a week, with the Rays addition of Manny Ramirez. Damon doesn’t have the athleticism that he displayed earlier in his career, but he can still be a decent hitter. Damon hit .271/.355/.401 with eight home runs (lowest since 2001), 51 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases (RBIs and stolen bases are lowest since his rookie season in 1995, where he only played in 47 games). Damon can provide a strong veteran presence in the clubhouse, but will he be able to produce enough to warrant a starting outfield spot?
Center Field: B.J. Upton
B.J. Upton has to be making a case for the most promising player that is underachieving right now. He had an unbelievable 2007 season in which he it for a .300 batting average along with 24 home runs and 82 RBIs. However, he hasn’t been able to play at that level since. Last year, Upton hit .237/.322/.424 with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, and 42 stolen bases. Upton’s struggles were shown on the highest stage in the playoffs where he hit for a .190 batting average (4 for 21). Upton hit significantly better against left-handed pitching (.278/.381/.538 vs. .218/.294/.371 against right-handers). For the Rays, if they have any chance to repeat as division champions, Upton is going to have become a better hitter for average and power.
Right Field: Desmond Jennings
Jennings spent nearly all of last season in the minor leagues, but he has been hailed as the heir to Carl Crawford’s role in the outfield. Jennings hit .278/.362/.393 with three home runs, 36 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases at Triple-A Durham. Jennings struggles against left-handed pitching .198/.343/.291 and only one home run in 86 at-bats. Another concern is the splits of home and away, and before and after the All-Star break. Jennings was significantly better at home than on the road (.451 slugging percentage at home compared to .332 on the road; and he was hitting .297/.375/.419 before the All-Star break compared to .253/.345/.359 afterwards). The Rays are going to go through their rookie struggles with Jennings, but his potential is endless as he has the potential to steal 40 bases, and gain a .400 on-base percentage.
DH: Manny Ramirez
The Rays made a splash by signing Manny Ramirez for primarily DH duties, as he once was one of the most feared sluggers in baseball. Unfortunately, Ramirez hasn’t been the same hitter since he was suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. Last season, Ramirez spent the season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox. Overall, Ramirez hit .298/.409/.460 with nine home runs, 42 RBIs, and 46 walks. However, his splits between the Dodgers and White Sox are drastically different. Ramirez’s slugging percentage with the Dodgers was .510, while it was only .319 with the White Sox (one home run in 69 at-bats). The Rays have to be praying that Ramirez can pull a Vladimir Guerrero, and show the world that he has more left in the tank, but critics have pointed at Ramirez’s diminishing skills for a couple of years now. Ramirez still is a strong fastball hitter, but he isn’t as effective against off-speed pitches as he used to be. On the Rays, his primary duty will be protecting Evan Longoria, and the Rays need him to do so, if they hope to repeat as AL East champions.
Rotation:
1. David Price
When David Price emerged on the national scene in 2008 with his strong relief duties in the playoffs, fans knew they were viewing the next superstar pitcher. Price didn’t fail to deliver. Price was named the AL starting pitcher of the All-Star game in his best season of his professional career. Last season Price went 19-6 with 2.72/1.19/.221 and 188 strikeouts in 208.2 innings. However, Price struggled in the playoffs against the Texas Rangers, and was twice upstaged by Cliff Lee, which should drive him to pitch better in 2011. Price was dominant at home in the regular season by going 9-2 and a 1.96 ERA. Another strong statistic was that Price remained the same before and after the All-Star game, which is tough for a young pitcher to show strong consistency. Price uses his fastball 73% of the time, with a strong slider that is used 18% of the time, but he is still developing his change-up and curve, which would give him a greater plethora of tools against hitters. Rays are expecting that Price has another strong showing this year, as are the rest of the opposing hitters that he will face.
2. James Shields
James Shields had a strong season, although his 13-15 record won’t show for it. Shields had a 5.18/1.46/.294 last season including 187 strikeouts in 203.1 innings for a 8.28 K/9. The problems for Shields were magnified after the All-Star break where he sported a 5.59 ERA. Shields has a devastating change-up but his fastball has become too hittable, which lessens the effect of his change-up and forces him behind in too many counts. The Rays survived an average James Shields last year, but they have to be hoping that he can pick up the slack this season after the Red Sox revamped their lineup, to make the AL East that much tougher.
3. Wade Davis
Wade Davis’ first full season was a success. Davis went 12-10 with 4.07/1.35/.255 and 113 strikeouts in 168 innings. A strong sign for the future of Davis was the success he showed after the All-Star break. Davis went 6-1 with a 3.28 ERA after the break, and with a higher inning total this season, Davis should be on the verge of a breakout season. Also, Davis was much better on the road than at home, by going 6-3 with a 3.94 ERA on the road, and 6-7 with a 4.18 ERA at home. Another sign that Davis is poised for the big stage was his success against the AL East last season, as he sported a winning record against all of the teams, except the Red Sox. If Davis can progress from last season, the Rays will have two future stars in Davis and David Price.
4. Jeremy Hellickson
The Rays are hoping that they have found the next David Price superstar in Jeremy Hellickson. Throughout his season in the minor leagues and his brief appearances in the Majors, Hellickson has impressed thus far. At Triple-A Durham last season, Hellickson went 12-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 117.2 innings. Hellickson won tons of accolades for his success in the minors last season, and he also translated it to the Majors. In his 10 appearances (four starts) Hellickson was 4-0 with 3.47/1.10/.232 and 33 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. What has the Rays salivating over the potential of Hellickson? The starts that he made in August were fantastic. Here are the lines of his four starts:
Aug. 2 vs. Minnesota: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Aug. 10 vs. Detroit: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Aug. 15 vs. Baltimore: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Aug. 20 vs. Oakland: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
If Hellickson can slide his minor league numbers over to the Majors this season, the Rays will be tremendously happy as they may be atop the division and smart after they parted with Matt Garza.
5. Jeff Niemann
Jeff Niemann has to be happy that the Rays traded away Garza, because he may not be in the rotation if he remained on the Rays. Niemann went 12-8 last season with 4.39/1.26/.242 and 131 strikeouts in 174.1 innings. Niemann was awesome before the All-Star break but wasn’t the same after. Before the break, Niemann was 7-2 with a 2.77 ERA, but he struggled afterwards going 5-6 with a 7.69 ERA. If he can end the season stronger than he did last season, the Rays will be smiling all season with a strong rotation.
Bullpen (closer: Jake McGee):
After Rafael Soriano bolted for the Yankees, the Rays are hoping that their bullpen will still be able to hold late inning leads. Jake McGee is projected to be closer, although he only recorded one save at Triple-A Durham last season. McGee had a strong K/9, but will he be able to handle the pressure of closing games? Recently, the Rays signed the inconsistent Kyle Farnsworth, which could be the signing of the off-season if he pans out, however he will be labeled a failure after his struggles as a Yankee. Andy Sonnanstine will remain the team’s long reliever, as he did a decent job in that position last year. Overall, the Rays have a lot of low-paid relievers, but they need them to be dominant all season if they are to compete with the Red Sox and Yankees for the divisional title.
Crystal Ball:
The Rays shocked the world by winning the division last season over the Yankees and the Red Sox. However, all of their key free agents (Crawford and Soriano) went back to the super powers in the East and the Rays are going to have to rely on talent from their farm system to keep close with the high rollers. Jeremy Hellickson should be a star, but I predict struggles for Desmond Jennings. It should be an interesting roller coaster for the Rays, as they are one of the youngest teams in baseball, but I don’t see a repeat coming as divisional champions.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
My Top 10 Rappers
1. Notorious B.I.G.
2. Eminem
3. Tupac
4. Big L
5. Jay-Z
6. Nas
7. Ice Cube
8. Mobb Deep
9. Kool G Rap
10. Rakim
Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher Wallace will always go down as one of the greatest rappers of all-time on everyone’s top lists. However, the question hovers that he only lived long enough to record two solo albums. In my opinion, those two albums (Ready to Die and Life After Death) are two of the top six albums ever recorded, and that he had to potential to make more hits. My favorite song of all-time is “Juicy”, which has the perfect flow and story-telling capabilities of his rags-to-riches story. Biggie’s flow, smooth lyrics, and ability to tell stories are the features that prompt me to name him as the top rapper of all-time.
Top Songs: Juicy, Big Poppa, Who Shot Ya?, What’s Beef? & Notorious Thugs
Eminem
Mr. Don’t Give a F—k is one of the top rappers because of his abilities to relate his real life stories into his songs. His ability to relate his listeners to the struggles that he faces is unparallel in the rap game. I consider his first two albums to be in the top six of top albums of all-time, and “The Eminem Show” isn’t far behind. Eminem’s sense of humor, his ability to attack any other rapper, and his word play will never be matched by another rapper, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest rappers of all-time. If he can produce another great album (Recovery was strong but not to the level of his first three), he will have strong consideration from me as the greatest rapper to ever live.
Top Songs: Lose Yourself, My Name is, Role Model, Stan, & The Real Slim Shady
Tupac
Probably the most popular rapper to ever live, Tupac had a poetic lyricism that could speak to all of his listeners. Tupac will always be one of the most versatile rappers to enter the game with his ability to have a serious song “Changes” that can relate to everyone in the world, to the streets in “Life Goes On”, to the party scenes “California Love”, and his sensitive side with “Dear Mama”. Tupac was one of the best battle rappers with the beefs that endured in his career, most prominently “Hit Em Up” against Notorious B.I.G. Unfortunately, he died too soon, but I will always believe that he had a higher peak in rap than he showed in his albums although “All Eyez on Me” will be regarded as one of the top albums ever.
Top Songs: Dear Mama, Changes, Life Goes On, & California Love
Big L
A similar career to Notorious B.I.G., Big L only had the chance to record two albums in his short life, but due to the fact that his two albums were outright amazing, he deserves to be mentioned as one of the best rappers to ever live. His ability to rap stories to his listeners will make every other rapper envious. Although Big L had a tremendous amount of street credibility, it was more personified through his rap songs than real life, where his rap sheet was empty. His life was cut too short, and he rapped in a generation that overlooked him, giving him the title of most underrated rapper ever.
Top Songs: Put It On, Devil’s Son, Danger Zone, & ’98 Freestyle
Jay-Z
Jay-Z is one of the few rappers that have been able to rapping strong over the course of 15 years. I will always prefer Jay-Z’s older songs, but his new style still suits the style that is popular today. Jay-Z has his own unique word flow, that he has made popular. Although Jay-Z may not be the greatest lyricist to ever rap, his ability to make songs that listeners will appreciate in all generations is an understated talent. His rivalry with Nas (#6 rapper) will probably go down as the best rap battles to ever happen between high-profile rappers, and I thought he held his own in “Blueprint 2”. Also, “Reasonable Doubt” is one of the best debut albums ever, and he deserves to be considered a top rapper of all-time.
Top Songs: Dead Presidents II, 22 Two’s, Moment of Clarity, & Blueprint 2
Nas
Nas is another rapper who started strong in the 90’s and his talents have continued past the millennium mark. Although I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t believe “Illmatic” is in the top 8 albums of all-time, which seems to be the general consensus, Nas is still one of the top rappers in the game. Nas holds a conversational type of rapping that makes it seem that he is talking to you through his songs instead of listening to a regular song. Also, Nas’ diss song “Ether” will always go down in my mind as the greatest diss ever to be recorded. Although he isn’t the same rapper that he used to be, he still should be celebrated as an amazing lyricist.
Top Songs: Ether, One Mic, Life’s a Bitch, & Hate Me Now
Ice Cube
Although Ice Cube has changed his persona from being one of the rawest rappers to being the actor that he has become, it doesn’t change my image of the rapper that I heard from N.W.A. Ice Cube was able to parlay his strong rhyming skills to messages of racism, police abuse, and other issues that he wanted to get across. Ice Cube’s rapping style was able to get through to his listeners with a force and recklessness that was effective for the points he wanted across.
Top Songs: No Vaseline, Straight Outta Compton, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, & Natural Born Killaz
Mobb Deep
I understand Mobb Deep is the duo of Havoc and Prodigy, but it didn’t seem to be justice not to put their careers together. Mobb Deep was one of the most influential rap duos ever to rap, and their careers together were exponentially better than their solo careers. Their abilities to rap dark and scary feelings through the words were more effective than any other gangster rappers of their time. The imagery that Mobb Deep can describe will bring the listeners to the violent Queensbridge streets.
Top Songs: Shooked Ones Pt. I and II, Hell on Earth, Survival of the Fittest, & Temperature’s Rising
Kool G Rap
This is the rapper that has probably influenced more rappers than any other rapper before him. His ability to rap in multi-syllable techniques, and visual descriptions have been emulated by nearly every other rapper above him on my top 10 list. Kool G Rap was one of the first successful rappers with the hardcore approach, which his listeners loved with his unparalleled imagery.
Top Songs: Fast Life, On the Run, Ill Street Blues, & My Life
Rakim
My last rapper on my Top 10 list wouldn’t be anywhere without the DJ Eric B., so I have to give him a shout-out as well. Rakim is a rapper that used a simple, relaxed word play that mesmerized his listeners. Also, he was a rapper that didn’t have to rap about sex and drugs compared to him rapping about being the best lyricist around. After breaking off from Eric B., Rakim was never the same rapper, but his influences and his ability to rap will never be forgotten from being one of the greatest of all-time.
Top Songs: I Ain’t No Joke, Move the Crowd, Follow the Leader, & My Melody
There is my list. I’d gladly take any comments whether you want to praise or bash this list if you have an opinion.
2. Eminem
3. Tupac
4. Big L
5. Jay-Z
6. Nas
7. Ice Cube
8. Mobb Deep
9. Kool G Rap
10. Rakim
Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher Wallace will always go down as one of the greatest rappers of all-time on everyone’s top lists. However, the question hovers that he only lived long enough to record two solo albums. In my opinion, those two albums (Ready to Die and Life After Death) are two of the top six albums ever recorded, and that he had to potential to make more hits. My favorite song of all-time is “Juicy”, which has the perfect flow and story-telling capabilities of his rags-to-riches story. Biggie’s flow, smooth lyrics, and ability to tell stories are the features that prompt me to name him as the top rapper of all-time.
Top Songs: Juicy, Big Poppa, Who Shot Ya?, What’s Beef? & Notorious Thugs
Eminem
Mr. Don’t Give a F—k is one of the top rappers because of his abilities to relate his real life stories into his songs. His ability to relate his listeners to the struggles that he faces is unparallel in the rap game. I consider his first two albums to be in the top six of top albums of all-time, and “The Eminem Show” isn’t far behind. Eminem’s sense of humor, his ability to attack any other rapper, and his word play will never be matched by another rapper, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest rappers of all-time. If he can produce another great album (Recovery was strong but not to the level of his first three), he will have strong consideration from me as the greatest rapper to ever live.
Top Songs: Lose Yourself, My Name is, Role Model, Stan, & The Real Slim Shady
Tupac
Probably the most popular rapper to ever live, Tupac had a poetic lyricism that could speak to all of his listeners. Tupac will always be one of the most versatile rappers to enter the game with his ability to have a serious song “Changes” that can relate to everyone in the world, to the streets in “Life Goes On”, to the party scenes “California Love”, and his sensitive side with “Dear Mama”. Tupac was one of the best battle rappers with the beefs that endured in his career, most prominently “Hit Em Up” against Notorious B.I.G. Unfortunately, he died too soon, but I will always believe that he had a higher peak in rap than he showed in his albums although “All Eyez on Me” will be regarded as one of the top albums ever.
Top Songs: Dear Mama, Changes, Life Goes On, & California Love
Big L
A similar career to Notorious B.I.G., Big L only had the chance to record two albums in his short life, but due to the fact that his two albums were outright amazing, he deserves to be mentioned as one of the best rappers to ever live. His ability to rap stories to his listeners will make every other rapper envious. Although Big L had a tremendous amount of street credibility, it was more personified through his rap songs than real life, where his rap sheet was empty. His life was cut too short, and he rapped in a generation that overlooked him, giving him the title of most underrated rapper ever.
Top Songs: Put It On, Devil’s Son, Danger Zone, & ’98 Freestyle
Jay-Z
Jay-Z is one of the few rappers that have been able to rapping strong over the course of 15 years. I will always prefer Jay-Z’s older songs, but his new style still suits the style that is popular today. Jay-Z has his own unique word flow, that he has made popular. Although Jay-Z may not be the greatest lyricist to ever rap, his ability to make songs that listeners will appreciate in all generations is an understated talent. His rivalry with Nas (#6 rapper) will probably go down as the best rap battles to ever happen between high-profile rappers, and I thought he held his own in “Blueprint 2”. Also, “Reasonable Doubt” is one of the best debut albums ever, and he deserves to be considered a top rapper of all-time.
Top Songs: Dead Presidents II, 22 Two’s, Moment of Clarity, & Blueprint 2
Nas
Nas is another rapper who started strong in the 90’s and his talents have continued past the millennium mark. Although I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t believe “Illmatic” is in the top 8 albums of all-time, which seems to be the general consensus, Nas is still one of the top rappers in the game. Nas holds a conversational type of rapping that makes it seem that he is talking to you through his songs instead of listening to a regular song. Also, Nas’ diss song “Ether” will always go down in my mind as the greatest diss ever to be recorded. Although he isn’t the same rapper that he used to be, he still should be celebrated as an amazing lyricist.
Top Songs: Ether, One Mic, Life’s a Bitch, & Hate Me Now
Ice Cube
Although Ice Cube has changed his persona from being one of the rawest rappers to being the actor that he has become, it doesn’t change my image of the rapper that I heard from N.W.A. Ice Cube was able to parlay his strong rhyming skills to messages of racism, police abuse, and other issues that he wanted to get across. Ice Cube’s rapping style was able to get through to his listeners with a force and recklessness that was effective for the points he wanted across.
Top Songs: No Vaseline, Straight Outta Compton, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, & Natural Born Killaz
Mobb Deep
I understand Mobb Deep is the duo of Havoc and Prodigy, but it didn’t seem to be justice not to put their careers together. Mobb Deep was one of the most influential rap duos ever to rap, and their careers together were exponentially better than their solo careers. Their abilities to rap dark and scary feelings through the words were more effective than any other gangster rappers of their time. The imagery that Mobb Deep can describe will bring the listeners to the violent Queensbridge streets.
Top Songs: Shooked Ones Pt. I and II, Hell on Earth, Survival of the Fittest, & Temperature’s Rising
Kool G Rap
This is the rapper that has probably influenced more rappers than any other rapper before him. His ability to rap in multi-syllable techniques, and visual descriptions have been emulated by nearly every other rapper above him on my top 10 list. Kool G Rap was one of the first successful rappers with the hardcore approach, which his listeners loved with his unparalleled imagery.
Top Songs: Fast Life, On the Run, Ill Street Blues, & My Life
Rakim
My last rapper on my Top 10 list wouldn’t be anywhere without the DJ Eric B., so I have to give him a shout-out as well. Rakim is a rapper that used a simple, relaxed word play that mesmerized his listeners. Also, he was a rapper that didn’t have to rap about sex and drugs compared to him rapping about being the best lyricist around. After breaking off from Eric B., Rakim was never the same rapper, but his influences and his ability to rap will never be forgotten from being one of the greatest of all-time.
Top Songs: I Ain’t No Joke, Move the Crowd, Follow the Leader, & My Melody
There is my list. I’d gladly take any comments whether you want to praise or bash this list if you have an opinion.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Obama: Two years In
“We know that government can't solve all our problems - and it shouldn't try. But it should work for us, not against us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American willing to work.”
--Barack Obama, September 2008
Barack Obama is halfway through his first term, and it was a difficult time to judge. Obama inherited a tough situation, amid in the middle of two wars, a recession, and the United States’ foreign policy in shambles.
In his 2008 campaign to win the general election, Obama promised change and hope that would unite America, and bring back better bi-partisan politics. Due to his strong campaign, Obama easily won the 2008 election, in part becoming the country’s first black president.
However, it has not all been smooth sailing as the recession has lasted longer than expected. Jobs in this country are being lost more than ever since the Great Depression, and Obama’s approval rating has suffered in his first two years. The last two years will prove to be critical in his bid to be re-elected for a second term.
Here is a summary of Obama’s first two years:
In the first year of his presidency, Obama held a strong enough majority in the House and Senate, to pass bills without needing the support of any Republicans. However, after Scott Brown’s surprising win in the Massachusetts Senate after Ted Kennedy’s death, Obama suffered non-partisan politics, which made public support for Capitol Hill suffer and people grimace for the future, where Republicans hold the majority in the House.
Economy
• Obama’s Recovery Act represented large changes in the infastructure, education, and clean-energy. Democrats claim it has saved or created as many as 3.7 million jobs across America, and a setting stone for the future, once the economy turns around.
• Also, the Recovery Act has reduced taxes for 95% of the middle class, and kept tax breaks for the next couple of years.
• Obama’s Administration has shed more light on the shadowy Wall Street, and their gigantic lending practices.
• Obama has reformed the credit card industry, as the implemented new protections for over-drafting, banned sudden APR increases, and helped college students understand credit better.
• Possibly most importantly, Obama saved the American auto industry, after huge losses early in his presidency. This prevented hundreds of thousands of job losses across the country, especially the Midwest. Also, after saving the industry, Obama is forcing the them to make cars that are more fuel efficient and green.
National Security
• Obama shifted the focus from Iraq to Afghanistan to focus on al Qaeda. Combat fighting in Iraq has ended, effectively bringing about 100,000 troops home.
• Obama has reached some of the best arm control agreements in United States history with START. START will reduce nuclear weapons across the world, and be able to hold other countries more accountable.
• The Obama administration has gone on the offensive against terrorists, including most of the U.S. allies.
Civil Rights
• Recently, Obama repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t tell”, which is strong support for the LGBT community.
• The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act will help women earn equal pay as men in the same positions.
Healthcare
• In the largest reform of healthcare in the history of the United States, Obama will make healthcare more affordable to lower-income families, and ending the health insurance industry tricks.
• 30 million Americans will be able to have healthcare, after they have been without it before.
• Children can stay on the parents’ insurance until they are 26 instead of 23, which helps tremendously for tons of students in college.
JUDGEMENT
Overall, I believe that Obama has been doing a great job as President in his first two years. Obama had the opportunity to reform healthcare, which he may never gain again as President, and it should benefit Americans for the future. Also, if the economy changes, his approval ratings will jump up dramatically and give him a strong shot to be re-elected. The only way I can see Obama not being the President in 2013, is a terrorist attack on American soil, or the economy souring worse than it is now.
Although the hope and change that Obama promised hasn’t happened as quickly as everyone would like; Obama is still doing a fantastic job as President.
Grade: B+
“And I will do everything that I can as long as I am President of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation under God, and we may call that God different names but we remain one nation."
Monday, January 3, 2011
My 2011 Hall of Fame post
Sure-fire Hall of Famers in 2011
Bert Blyleven:
After several efforts from the media including the Minnesota Twins, Blyleven should be on his way to Cooperstown. Blyleven ended up only 0.8% away from being inducted last year, and this year should be time for the call. Although Blyleven wasn’t a dominant pitcher when he was playing, he used consistency to pave his way to the Hall. Currently, Blyleven ranks fifth all-time in strikeouts (3,701), ninth in shutouts (60), and 27th all-time in wins (287). The knocks against Blyleven are his 250 losses, and that he only made two All-Star games. However, after earning only 14.1% of the votes in his second year eligible for the Hall of Fame, Blyleven proved that his consistency over the years was appreciated.
Roberto Alomar:
Similar to Blyleven, Alomar was extremely close to be voted in last year. Alomar missed by 1.3% but this year should make it official. The sad note was that Alomar didn’t get the honor of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Alomar was voted into the All-Star game 12 times, ten Gold Gloves (most all-time for second basemen), and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2nd all-time for second basemen). Alomar had a .300 batting average over his career and only had 108 more strikeouts than walks.. Also, Alomar had 474 stolen bases, three 20-home run seasons, and a career .371 on-base percentage. The biggest reason to vote against Alomar was the incident in 1996, where Alomar spat in an umpire’s face after arguing on a third strike. Alomar should easily enter the Hall of Fame, after putting together one of the best careers ever for a second basemen.
Should be in
Jack Morris:
Morris is entering his 12th season after garnering 52.3% of the votes last year. Morris is one of the most debated about candidates in recent years because his stats can be seen as a case for and against. Morris’ true legacy lies in the 1991 Game 7 of the World Series ten-inning performance that won the Minnesota Twins a championship. Morris was a five-time All-Star, and won the most games in the 1980s. Morris finished in the top-five of Cy Young voting five times, but never won the award. At the end of his 18-season career, Morris won 254 games with 2,478 strikeouts. The major knocks against Morris are his 3.90 ERA, which would be the highest of all the pitchers in the Hall, and that he never had an amazing one season. Another knock is a finding by Bill James that Jack Morris was 92-114 against good teams, and that he beat up on bad teams. Although his ERA was high, and that he never had a single great season, Morris was like Blyleven and had a consistent career, which was worthy of the Hall.
Fred McGriff:
McGriff like other Hall of Fame candidates had great consistency in his career. He was a five-time All Star and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Also, McGriff finished in the top-10 of MVP voting seven times. McGriff seems as one of the few players from the 1990s that definitely didn’t take steroids, even though he led the league in home runs twice, and finished with 493 career homers. Also, McGriff sported a career .284 batting average, 2,490 hits, and had eight seasons with over 100 RBIs. Although McGriff wasn’t the most dominant player of his era, he was extremely consistent and the type of player that belongs in the Hall.
Rafael Palmeiro:
Yes, Palmeiro tested positive for steroids near the end of his career, but if I’m going to make a case for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens when they become eligible in the future, then I have to make a case for Palmeiro. He is one of four players to be in the 500 home run and 3,000 hit club. Palmeiro was voted into four all-star games, and won three Gold Gloves. Take away the positive steroid test, which was further aggravated by the incident at Capitol Hill. Palmeiro’s final numbers ended up with a .288 batting average, 569 home runs, 3,020 hits, and 1,835 RBIs. The knocks against Palmeiro are the positive steroid test, and the fact that he never appeared in a World Series. However, if the steroid test never happened, he would easily be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Will be in eventually
Barry Larkin:
I don’t understand the reasoning of Larkin receiving only 51.6% of the votes last season. He wasn’t the most dominant hitter ever, but his consistency is tough to match. He was selected to 12 All-Star games, won nine Silver Sluggers, three Gold Gloves, a Roberto Clemente Award, a World Series and the 1995 NL MVP. Larkin finished his career with a .295 batting average, 2,340 hits, 379 stolen bases, and over 100 more walks in his career than strikeouts. Historian Bill James named Larkin the sixth best shortstop to ever play, and I don’t see a valid reason that he hasn’t been voted into the Hall of Fame, or the fact that he barely got over half the votes. Once voters review his numbers accordingly, he will be in the Hall of Fame.
Jeff Bagwell:
Bagwell was a good player, but I don’t understand the sentiment that he deserves to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Yes, Bagwell was an excellent player, but he wasn’t the superstar that everyone else makes him sound. Bagwell went to four All-Star games, one Gold Glove, three Silver Sluggers, was in the top-10 of MVP voting five times; winning the 1994 NL MVP. Over his career, Bagwell hit 449 home runs, 1,529 RBIs, a .297 batting average, 202 stolen bases, and 1,401 walks. Yes, I think Bagwell should be a Hall of Famer to reward his consistency and strong numbers on a bad ballclub over his career, but a first-ballot Hall of Famer? Not quite.
Mark McGwire:
Yes, he took steroids throughout his career. However, during that era, I’m not going to judge players based on the facts that they took steroids or not, but rather on the best players of that era. Although, McGwire was one of the most feared hitters of all-time, the one thing that he probably will never receive the due credit for is saving baseball. After the strike in 1994, it was the home run race that McGwire and Sammy Sosa participated in that brought the fans completely back to baseball. It was a daily activity for fans to see if McGwire or Sosa inched closer to 61 home runs, and after McGwire broke Roger Maris’ mark, it put baseball back on the map in the world of sports. McGwire made 12 All-Star games, a Gold Glove, three Silver Sluggers, and the 1987 AL Rookie of the Year. However, the only knocks I have against McGwire is that he never won an MVP in a season, and that although he hit 583 home runs, he only had 1,626 hits in his career. However neither of those knocks are enough to keep McGwire out of the Hall of Fame, unless you discount him for using steroids.
No luck
Juan Gonzalez:
Gonzalez had a productive career with 434 home runs and two MVP awards, but he didn’t have the consistency over his career to warrant a Hall of Fame induction. He was a solid player in his prime, but he faced too many injuries and the saga at the end of his career will probably leave a sour legacy for voters.
Larry Walker
Walker went to five All-Star games, and won one MVP, but didn’t top out as a player that had a career worthy of the Hall of Fame. Also, there is the Coors Field factor that will play against Walker’s offensive numbers, which probably hold true as he hit over 50 points higher in three seasons than his career average. Walker was a good player, but he wasn’t an elite one.
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