How Brad Ausmus Can Make His Mark as a Skipper

How Brad Ausmus Can Make His Mark as a Skipper

With the 2014 non-waiver wire deadline behind us, it is clear that the Oakland A’s and Detroit Tigers made moves and shaped their rosters due to the competition the other presents. What sets these two teams apart still is something that would help shape Brad Ausmus’ career as a manager and prove he has the stones to do whatever it takes to win.

Regardless of how good and sometimes dominant the Tigers starting staff has been, and that’s before the addition of David Price, the one Achilles heel they’ve had all season is their bullpen. Even with great starters the bullpen will be crucial in October and right now the Tigers do not have the edge against Oakland because of this. They do however have an ace in the hole, pun definitely intended, that would put them over the top and virtually guarantee a World Series title. The question is though; does Ausmus in fact have the stones to make the move?

Justin Verlander in 2014 has not been the Justin Verlander we’ve come to know over the years. There’s no denying this fact and Verlander himself would tell you the same thing. There’s also no question that he has been Detroit’s worst starter this year and with the addition of Price that trend will continue. So how can Ausmus change the shape of the 2014 playoffs? The answer is simple: Justin Verlander: Closer.

The old adage goes, “What have you done for me lately?” well in Verlander’s case the answer has been not much. Yes, in the past he has been one of the most dominant pitchers of the current era, but in 2014 he just has not been as effective as the rest of his rotation mates. So come the postseason, you put Verlander in the bullpen and let him close out games. Bruce Bochy did it with Tim Lincecum and it worked very well, Ausmus needs to do the same.
By executing this move Ausmus doesn’t have to sit through every heart attack inducing Joe Nathan appearance and also he essentially is turning Verlander loose on the opposition. Having him throw a limited number of pitches allows him to fire that 100 mph fastball consistently and blow everyone away. He can be more of a thrower as opposed to a pitcher and for this year I feel that would suit him extremely well.

Next season maybe Verlander comes back and is his dominant self once again. Who knows what will happen because we can’t predict the future, but for 2014 and the upcoming playoffs his best role is as a flame throwing closer. Bochy and the Giants have given Ausmus and Detroit precedent and it’s been made clear Ilitch wants the title now due to his advanced age, so let’s see just how bad they actually want it. What’s the sense of gambling when you can play the sure thing?

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 8

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 8

 

Welcome back to our final Trade Deadline Preview. Today we will be taking a look at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Atlanta Braves. Both teams look to be well on their way to a playoff spot, but could use some upgrades to the roster to ensure their winning ways continue.

Angels of Anaheim

Positives- They employ the best baseball player in the galaxy, Mike Trout. Garrett Richards has been great and should be an All-Star. Albert Pujols has been healthy.

Negatives- Bullpen. Bullpen. Bullpen.

The Angels are a very dangerous team and could very well find themselves playing deep into October, if they can fix their bullpen. They’ve added Jason Grilli and Joe Thatcher already but could use one more late inning guy. Whether it’s a setup man or a closer the back end of the bullpen needs some tightening up. The team they need to look to is the San Diego Padres who have both a closer and setup man that could and should be traded. Either Joaquin Benoit or Huston Street should be in an Angels uniform by August 1^st. Adding one of those guys to a team with a great lineup and a rotation headed by Weaver, Wilson, and Richards could catapult this team to a World Series contender.

Atlanta Braves

Positives- Impressive play despite a plethora of injuries and bad play from regulars.

Negatives- Dan Uggla. Bench production. Dan Uggla. Injuries. Dan Uggla. Fredi Gonzalez. Dan Uggla.

The Atlanta Braves have had a lot of things go wrong for them this season. Between injuries to starting pitchers, Dan Uggla not being able to reach the Mendoza Line before being benched, and Fredi Gonzalez’s ineptitude as a manager. Despite all of that, there is still enough talent on this team to overcome all that. The Braves could use some bench help and possibly one more starter. That starter wouldn’t be David Price as he would probably command too much and the Braves farm system is not that deep. If I’m the Braves I concentrate on trying to pick up a starter along the lines of an Ian Kennedy or Kevin Correia. Those guys will not command a large haul and can help bolster an already solid rotation. As far as their bench production if they could snag a guy like Logan Forsythe or Eduardo Nunez they would do very well for themselves.

Well that does it for not only Part 8 but our Trade Deadline Series as a whole. We will be back with All-Star Game coverage of festivities and a running diary of both the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game itself.

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 7

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 7

 

 

 

We’re back once again with our next to last Trade Deadline preview. Today we will be looking at two teams who are still currently in the race, but could very easily fall out of it in the second half if they don’t do enough to improve. Those two teams are the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants. Both the Tigers and the Dodgers are hitting a groove and playing far better than they did at the beginning of the season. If that continues, these teams will be left behind looking towards next year.

Kansas City Royals

Positives- Pitching. Ability to hit for average. Salvador Perez and Alex Gordon being perennial Gold Glovers.

Negatives- Ability to hit for power.

The Kansas City Royals are going through a complete power outage this season. They cannot get the ball to leave the yard on a consistent basis. If you need singles and doubles then this is a great offense for you, but if you need a power swing that can put multiple runs on the board with one swing, look elsewhere because they won’t be able to help you. The Royals need to add a bat that can generate consistent power and also hope that guys like Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler wake up from these giant slumps and start hitting some more home runs. There isn’t much big time power out there and available to Kansas City but there are some guys that can certainly help and do a better job than what their lineup has done thus far. I would look to Marlon Byrd first and foremost because he’s much more adept defensively as well as being a good bat. When a guy needs a spell or if they were inclined to bench Aoki for his lack of production, Byrd can slide right in.

Other options to consider: Adam Dunn (CWS), Chris Carter (HOU).

San Francisco Giants

Positives- Jumping out to such a big lead early on that they can still consider themselves in the race. Tim Hudson rebounding from his terrible ankle injury to come back and be as good as ever. Madison Bumgarner providing the staff a true ace.

Negatives- The offense has died quicker than a goldfish won at a carnival. 2nd base production. Bench depth.

San Francisco is very lucky they jumped out to the huge lead that they did. After 60 games they had the best record in baseball and looked to be well on their way to the postseason. Then the hitting started to fade, Angel Pagan got hurt, and Sergio Romo had to be removed from the close role because of ineffectiveness. Thanks to that hot start however, they can still be considered a contender and a threat for a playoff spot. Without some upgrades and the offense coming back to form that will change very quickly. San Francisco needs to look for help at 2nd base and needs to bolster their bench so that a guy like Joquain Arias can stop getting playing time. They need to look at Ben Zobrist if Tampa Bay is willing to part with him. He can play second and is also versatile enough to play elsewhere to spell guys on certain days. Bench production has been a problem for San Fran over the last two years and they need to look at upgrades in both the infield and outfield in order to improve this issue. There is only one game separating them from Los Angeles but if they don’t get their act together soon it will be much more than that.

Other options to consider: Aaron Hill (ARZ), Martin Prado (ARZ), Eric Young Jr. (NYM), Eduardo Nunez (MIN), Justin Ruggiano (CHC), Nate Schierholtz (CHC).

That will do it for Part 7 of our Trade Deadline series. Join us tomorrow as we wrap the series up with a look at the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Until then, enjoy the games.

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 6

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 6

 

 

We’re back once again with Part 6 of our Trade Deadline Preview for 2014. Today we will be taking a look at the Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Both teams have played well in the first half and will not need to make major improvements but the rosters could use some slight tweaking to give them that extra push towards the postseason. 

Baltimore Orioles

Positives- Nelson Cruz. Being in first place despite horrible first halves from Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy and Chris “Crush” Davis. Emergence of Zach Britton in the closer role. Bullpen.

Negatives- Starting pitching. Matt Wieters season ending injury. 2nd base production.

The Baltimore Orioles signed Nelson Cruz to a 1 year $8 million deal, and all he’s done is lead the American League in HRs and RBIs. Cruz is on the short list of guys likely to finish 2nd behind Mike Trout in the MVP vote and the Orioles have already gotten enough of a return on their investment and then some. Thanks to Cruz’s monster first half the Orioles have been able to overcome the poor starts, injuries, and suspensions of Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy, and Manny Machado. If two of those guys can rebound in the second half, even with a Cruz slide which could be likely, the Orioles will find themselves in the playoff hunt until the very end. A division win would not be out of the question. As of right now without even making a move they would have to be considered the favorite in the East.

The Orioles need to focus on starting pitching. They have Kevin Gausman who has been shuffled back and forth between Triple-A and the Majors so often it’s not even funny. He hasn’t done poor enough to warrant it though which is the most confusing part. Sure he’s not an ace or pitching like one but he’s no worse than what they already have. Plus, Dylan Bundy could be ready for the Majors sometime in August so he could provide a boost. They shouldn’t be looking at a guy like David Price, they don’t need him. I would look at a guy like A.J. Burnett if I was the Orioles. He’s a veteran on a team friendly deal who has plenty of experience in the AL East. That would be the name that would make the most sense for the team.

Other options to consider: Bartolo Colon (NYM), Ian Kennedy (SD), Kevin Correia (MIN).

 

Los Angeles Dodgers

Positives- Dee Gordon at 2nd base. Clayton Kershaw proving he’s not in fact human. Yasiel Puig proving he is not a one year wonder.

Negatives- Hanley Ramirez defense at short. 3rd base production. Depth of starting pitching.

I don’t see the Dodgers going after David Price or possibly Jon Lester, even though they do have the pieces to acquire such talent. If they pick up an arm at the deadline I could see it being a lefty out of the pen. Someone like a Tony Sipp of Houston or Brian Duensing of Minnesota would be perfect. The more pressing move the Dodgers would need to make is acquiring a shortstop so they can move Hanley Ramirez back to third where he is better suited to play at this point. Someone like Stephen Drew in Boston would be a good fit for this team. If they can get a better defensive shortstop and move Hanley to third the lineup will be set. They have a good starting five but would be in trouble if one of those guys got hurt. Possibly adding a marginal pitcher for depth would be a move I could see them making. Someone in the mold of a Brandon McCarthy who just recently was shipped to the Yankees is the type of pitcher they should be looking for. No need to give up prized prospects for a big name.

Other names to consider: Marwin  Gonzalez/Jonathan Villar (HOU), Cesar Ramos (SD), Josh Edgin (NYM), Eduardo Nunez (MIN).

That will do it for Part 6, join us tomorrow as we take a look at the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals. Only two more days left of our trade preview, which will take us into the last weekend of the season before the Mid-Summer Classic. Enjoy the games folks.

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 5

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 5

  

 

 

We’re back with the second half of our trade preview taking a look at two more contenders and the moves they should be looking to make. Today we take a look at two teams on opposite sides of the spectrum recently in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. Pittsburgh has been one of the hottest teams in baseball climbing back into contention for a wild card spot and their second straight playoff appearance. Toronto on the other hand came out of the gate firing, jumping out ahead of the pack thanks in large part to Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, and Mark Buehrle. Lately however, they have cooled down considerably and have allowed even last place Tampa and Boston to be within 8.5 and 9 games respectively. Buehrle has come back down to Earth hard over his last 8 or so starts and with the injury over the weekend to Edwin Encarnacion, the hole they are digging themselves in is getting deeper. Let’s dive in and take a look at their needs.

Toronto Blue Jays

Positives- Power. Jose Reyes has remained healthy since coming off the DL. 

Negatives- Depth. 2nd base production. 

The Blue Jays can thank their hot start for keeping them in the race right now and ahead of the pack but they are in desperate need of a move or they will soon be looking up at multiple teams. They have been linked lately to Chase Headley of the Padres and he is the exact type of guy they need to bring in. Putting him at third base will allow Brett Lawrie to stay at second as opposed to shifting back and forth based on matchups, but the caveat is that Lawrie has to stay healthy which has become a problem for him. They could also look to a guy like Aaron Hill and bring him back to Toronto to play second, allowing Lawrie to stay at third. The Jays could also look to add a starter into the rotation. They wouldn’t necessarily need an ace like David Price but if they could pick up an A.J. Burnett or Ian Kennedy type pitcher it would help them tremendously. Dickey is too inconsistent, Morrow is always hurt, Buehrle will give you the innings and consistent starts but his numbers have dipped. The Jays will be leaning on Marcus Stroman and Drew Hutchinson to guide them in the second half but as their innings load increases there’s no telling how their performance will respond. Toronto is the team in most desperate need of a move and better hope they make the right one or else the playoffs will be beyond the horizon and out of sight once again.

Other options to consider: Bartolo Colon (NYM), Martin Prado (ARZ).

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

Positives-  Andrew McCutchen performing as well as he did during his MVP season last year. Emergence of Gregory Polanco in the outfield and at the plate.

Negatives- Pitching (Both starters and bullpen).

The Pirates started out slow but since May are tied with Oakland for the best record in baseball. With arguably the best outfield in baseball, Pittsburgh has enough offense to stay in the race and push forward. Pitching wise they need some improvement. Jeff Locke and Vance Worley have pitched well since coming up from the minors and they should be getting Francisco Liriano back soon. Add in the fact that Gerrit Cole should hopefully have a better second half than he did first half and they don’t need to make a huge improvement to the staff. They’ve already made an embattled closer trade with the Angels shipping Jason Grilli to Anaheim for Ernesto Frieri but they could definitely use one more right handed reliever. I don’t see them going after one of the bigger names as far as starters go so I would rule out David Price or Jon Lester coming to the Steel City.

Other options to consider: A.J. Burnett (PHI) coming back again, Ian Kennedy (SD), Chad Qualls (HOU).

 That will do it for Part 5, join us tomorrow as we discuss the Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Until then, enjoy the games folks.

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 4

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 4

 

Welcome back once again to the MLB trade deadline preview here at Changing Speeds. We’ve already taken a look at some of the teams in both the AL and NL and where they need to be looking in order to improve their chances come the postseason. Today we reach the halfway point as we look at two surprising teams, one being a good surprise, the other not so much. Those two teams are the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals. When the season began no one was expecting Seattle to have the 2^nd best run differential up to this point, nor were they expecting St. Louis to be 5 games back of 1^st place in the Central with only a .5 game lead from 3^rd place.  Let’s jump right into the preview.

 Seattle Mariners

Positives- The addition of Robinson Cano as a middle of the order, run producing threat. Pitching (both starting and relief), the best defense in baseball.

Negatives-  Lack of a right handed bat in the middle of the order to balance out the lineup.

Seattle made a big splash when it signed Robinson Cano to a 10 year deal worth almost a quarter of a billion dollars. They were banking on him to be the steady, consistent middle of the order power bat and run producer. Safeco Field may have zapped some of his power up to this point but he is driving in runs and getting on base and is an underrated candidate for MVP. Seattle was already heavily tilted to the left side before signing Cano, so they brought in Corey Hart to be the righty that balanced the lineup. Unfortunately for Seattle, Hart got hurt and is only just coming back to the lineup, but he is looking to be a shell of his former self. Seattle finds itself right smack in the middle of a pennant race thanks to their pitching and defense, but they absolutely need to make a move to fix their only glaring weakness. Matt Kemp would most likely be the team’s dream acquisition but I don’t think they have enough to be able to make that move so they are going to have to go after a right hander who is the next tier down from Kemp. My personal choice for them would be Texas Ranger Alex Rios. He is a fantastic hitter, he has a swing that fits well with Safeco, and he is a better defender than the other choices available to Seattle. If they were to pick up Rios they could then platoon Logan Morrison and Corey Hart at first base, helping to take one more lefty out of the lineup when facing a left handed pitcher. Texas may not be willing to part with Rios but if I’m Seattle that is my number one target and would exhaust all options in order to acquire him.

Other options to consider: Josh Willingham (MIN), Marlon Byrd (PHI), and Michael Cuddyer (COL).

St. Louis Cardinals

Positives- Considering where analysts and pundits saw this team at the beginning of the season, there really isn’t much besides Adam Wainwright. Also, still being in the Wild Card and Division hunt despite the disappointing first half.

Negatives- Severe lack of power. Pitching injuries. No production whatsoever from 2^nd base.

Coming into this season the Cardinals were basically a shoo-in to run through the National League and find themselves back in the World Series. They had quality and depth on the pitching side and had a lineup that could stand toe to toe with any in baseball. Once the year started though, all that began to change. They have had to deal with injuries to the staff, a power shortage comparable to the East Coast blackout of 2003, and dead bodies patrolling second base for the first half of the season. The number one priority for St. Louis is the acquisition of either a second baseman or a third baseman, moving Matt Carpenter back to second, where he had a fantastic season last year. In order to make this happen, the Arizona Diamondbacks would be the first team I reach out to if I’m the Cards. Aaron Hill could definitely be traded for and Martin Prado is also in the desert and could be a nice addition. Once that is taken care of I move on to a starter. The pieces are there in St. Louis for them to make a major move and go after David Price if they so choose. May seem like a very drastic move but the title window is closing for a lot of veterans and this type of all-in move is what can propel them back to the Fall Classic.

Other options to consider: Jon Lester (BOS), Ben Zobrist (TB).

Part 4 is in the books. Join us tomorrow as we take a look at the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. Until then, enjoy the games.

The Winds of Change are Starting to Blow Part 3

The Winds of Change are Starting to Blow Part 3

 

Welcome back everyone to part 3 of our trade deadline preview. Today we will be taking a look at two teams on different sides of the spectrum as far as the playoffs are concerned. Those two teams are the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals. Washington is trending upward while the Yankees are trending downward, but not all hope is lost in the Bronx. Washington is sitting 1.5 games back of the suddenly hot again Atlanta Braves, but because of the Braves streakiness they should like their current chances at a division title. Let’s take a look at what these teams will need to do.

New York Yankees

Positives- Brett Gardner. Mark Teixeira. Future Closer Dellin Betances. New found ace Masahiro Tanaka.

Negatives- Injuries. Terrible infield. No Depth. Kelly Johnson’s defense.

The New York Yankees are perhaps the biggest enigma of the 2014 baseball season. They sit one game over .500 at 43-42 and three games back of division leading Toronto, but truthfully, they have no business being in this race. The way they’ve played, including having a -33 run differential, they should be making offseason golfing plans. This isn’t an injury plagued team overachieving, this is a bad team that is lucky everyone else in the division is just as bad.

The Yankees definitely need starting pitching but their main targets came off the board last night as the Oakland A’s pushed all in and acquired Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija from the Cubs. David Price is still potentially available but even if Tampa chooses to deal him I don’t see a situation where they would be willing to help the Yankees and end up having to face Price. There is also the issue of facial hair. Yes, it sounds crazy but Price had gone on record as saying he would never want to play for the Yankees because of their facial hair policy and his unwillingness to shave. Lately however, Price, like everyone else who will not stand by original statements, has flip flopped on the issue and said if he did wind up on the Yankees he would shave and abide by team rules.

There is one team out there with the pieces to fit both of the Yankees needs, and if I’m the Yankees and Brian Cashman I’m calling this team nonstop and doing whatever I have to do in order to get a deal done. That team is the San Diego Padres. Ian Kennedy and Chase Headley should be Yankees come August 1^st. Kennedy of course would be on his second stint in the Bronx after his first didn’t go well at all but he is a different pitcher now than he was then. He can eat up innings and be an anchor in the rotation for the second half to go along with Masahiro Tanaka. As far as Headley is concerned, there have been rumblings about him and the Bronx for a while. The time though is now to pull the trigger. Despite the pinched nerve Headley is dealing with causing pain in his leg he is still a massive upgrade over the entire current infield with the exception of Teixeira. Also, being a switch hitter, that short porch in right will do wonders for his power numbers. I’m not even going to list other options to consider here because this is the deal the team needs to get done.

Washington Nationals

Positives- Pitching. Anthony Rendon emerging as a future star. Production and veteran leadership of Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche. Tanner Roark solidifying his spot in an already excellent rotation.

Negatives- Health. Bench production. Having to find playing time for all the talent.

The biggest issue that faced the Washington Nationals this season was health. Too many key players missed chunks of time not allowing them to field their complete team until just recently. The problem with that is the double edged sword nature of the issue. The team’s glad to have everyone back and playing but is forced to do a lot of shifting and have to sit a good player. Anthony Rendon who is naturally a third baseman was playing extremely well at the hot corner while Ryan Zimmerman was doing a good job in left field as he feels he is no longer able to play an effective third base due to his shoulder problem. Now with franchise cornerstone Bryce Harper healthy, he slides back into left field and shifts Zimmerman to third and Rendon to second. With this lineup, Danny Espinosa, who is a far superior defender than Rendon is forced to sit on the bench. Keeping everyone at their positions they were playing and shifting Harper to center forces Denard Span to the bench, and with the season he is having this year, the Nationals cannot afford to do that. Having too much talent is a luxury usually and that is how Matt Williams is playing off in the media but I do not envy the decisions he has to make on an everyday basis.

Due to their excellent pitching and great starting talent there isn’t much that the Nats have to do besides stay healthy. They could certainly look for a utility bench player to help bolster their bench production as Nate McLouth, Kevin Frandsen, and Scott Hairston haven’t been able to do a good enough job. Some guys that the Nats can look to acquire would be Marc Krauss of Houston, Emilio Bonifacio of Chicago, or Alexi Amarista of San Diego. Any one of those guys would help add to their depth and help Matt Williams throw a versatile player in the lineup on days where multiple guys need days off.

That’s it for part 3 of our series, we will be back tomorrow with part 4 as we continue to analyze the needs of contenders as the season goes on. Tomorrow we will take a look at the St. Louis Cardinals and the Seattle Mariners and who they should be looking at to cement their playoff chances.

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 2

The Winds of Change Are Starting to Blow Part 2

 

 

Welcome back to Part 2 of our trade deadline preview where we will be taking a look at contending teams and what and who they should be looking for come the deadline at the end of the month. Yesterday we took a look at the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers and how they can improve their chances to be the team lifting the Commissioner’s Trophy come October. Today we will take a look at the Cincinnati Reds and the Oakland Athletics.

 

Cincinnati Reds

Positives- Emergence of Devin Mesoraco. Todd Frazier home run power. Late inning relief. Getting rid of Dusty Baker.

Negatives- Health. Middle Relief. Infield Depth.

 

Getting rid of Dusty Baker and the emergence of Devin Mesoraco go hand in hand because Dusty refused to give him playing time every day last season because well, Mesoraco isn’t a hardened veteran who should always take precedence over potential. Todd Frazier has emerged as well, becoming a right handed power threat this lineup sorely needed to balance out Votto and Bruce. Jonathan Broxton and Aroldis Chapman have formed a great one-two punch at the back end of the bullpen and make Reds fans feel very confident when they have a lead going into the 8th inning. 

Middle relief and health were the two biggest concerns of the first half for the team. The health is better and the Reds have gone on a run to climb right into the thick of the wild card race. Middle relief is still a concern, especially from the left side. If the Reds can pick up a southpaw before the deadline they will be in very good shape. If they can also pick up an infielder to shore up their depth they will surely take it but it is not as big of a need as a lefty reliever.

The first guy the Reds should look into is Tony Sipp of the Houston Astros. The Astros are willing to part with any player who they don’t see as a valuable part of their future and Sipp certainly fits that bill being both 30 years old and a reliever. Another target I would look to if I were Cincinnati would be Neal Cotts of the Texas Rangers. The Rangers may not see the need to blow everything up with their lost season this year but Cotts is certainly an expendable piece. If the Reds can keep their key contributors healthy and acquire one of these guys they could certainly find themselves playing in the Wild Card game.

Other options to consider: Cesar Ramos (TB), Brian Duensing (MIN), Alex Torres (SD).

 

Oakland A’s

Positives- Depth.  Best run differential in baseball by far.

Negatives- Production from 2^nd basemen.

 

Oakland lost their top two starters before the year began in Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin but they haven’t looked back thanks to the signing of Scott Kazmir and the emergence of Jesse Chavez as a middle of the rotation starter. They’ve jumped out to the best record in baseball and the best run differential as well. They’ve gotten great production from almost every spot in the lineup except 2^nd base and have gotten spectacular pitching. If I’m Oakland and my focus is on a 2^nd baseman I want one of the bigger names and wouldn’t settle for anything less if I couldn’t acquire one. Those names are Chase Utley, Ben Zobrist, and Daniel Murphy. Utley would be the absolute perfect fit but it is unknown if Philly would even trade him, or even better yet, if he would veto the trade. Zobrist fits the Billy Beane mold of a good, patient hitter who can play multiple positions but again it is unknown if Tampa would consider trading him if they feel they can contend next season. Lastly is Daniel Murphy who the Mets could probably be persuaded to trade, but they would certainly have to brace themselves for a fan revolt as next to Harvey and Wright he is the most beloved player on the team. If I can’t get one of these guys then I go to war with the platoon of Sogard and Punto. A second tier type player like Gordon Beckham is not that much of an upgrade over those two guys so I would not give anything up to acquire him. I would instead shift my focus to a back end starter for the purpose of depth. Sonny Gray and Jesse Chavez have never thrown the amount of innings they will throw this year and Scott Kazmir hasn’t done it in years so it would be nice to have some insurance around just in case any of these guys were to break down. Someone like former Athletic and current Diamondback Brandon McCarthy would be a nice pickup. He’s having a horrible year in Arizona but could benefit from a move back to the Bay Area.

Other options to consider: Roberto Hernandez (PHI).

There you have it folks part two is in the books. We will back again tomorrow with a look at two more contenders. Until then, enjoy the games.

The Winds of Change are Starting to Blow

The Winds of Change are Starting to Blow

 

 

The month of July is a busy one in Major League Baseball. Firstly, we reach the midway point of the season where the picture of contender or pretender becomes clearer. Next we have the All-Star Game and the arguments of selections and whether they are deserved or not. However, what comes next is the most important aspect of the season and begins the final act and march towards the postseason. What happens of course is the trade deadline. Teams try as best they can to shore up their rosters and do whatever is necessary to reach that postseason light at the end of the tunnel. As is always the case there will be deals that will work out, deals that won’t, and those very few deals where both teams mutually benefit. For the next few days we here at Changing Speeds will take a look at teams we feel are postseason contenders and what it is and who it is they should be looking for as the deadline approaches. If you do not see your team covered in this space over the next few installments, then as the old saying goes, better luck next year. We will start off this series with a look at the Detroit Tigers and the surprising Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Detroit Tigers

Positives-  Much improved infield defense with the acquisition of Ian Kinsler and shift of Miguel Cabrera back to first base. Victor Martinez is 3rd in the AL in hitting and doing it from both sides of the plate. The emergence of Rick Porcello thanks in large part to the improved infield defense. They employ Miguel Cabrera.

Negatives- Offensive production from the shortstop position. BULLPEN. BULLPEN. BULLPEN.

The Tigers have the guy they believe to be their shortstop of the future in Jose Iglesias. Unfortunately for them he is out for the season. Due to his injury the Tigers had to use a patchwork approach at the position rotating guys in and out based on effectiveness but have seemed to settle on Eugenio Suarez. Suarez is not going to strike fear into any pitcher but because they will be getting Iglesias back next year and have enough offense everywhere else in the lineup I don’t see Detroit making a move for a shortstop. The bullpen is a completely different story, especially the back end. Joe Nathan has looked old and washed up far too often and even the saves he converts aren’t easy. Joba Chamberlain is the complete opposite of Phil Hughes. Both moved to very hitter friendly parks but only Hughes has seen his stats improve. Chamberlain is still the same ineffective out of shape mess he was as a Yankee. Only difference now is he has about 14 pounds of facial hair on his face which is a bold decision in the summer in Detroit. Luckily for the Tigers the bullpen is one of the easier problems to alleviate and there are plenty of options out there where they won’t have to mortgage their future and give up top tier talent.

The first phone call I would make if I’m Detroit is to the Houston Astros to kick the tires on Chad Qualls. Houston is in sell mode, especially when it concerns a guy they have no plans for in the future, so they should be very willing to listen. Qualls has experience and knows how to pitch down the stretch in a pennant race. The change of scenery and ability to pitch in meaningful games could even rejuvenate Qualls and give him some extra motivation to perform well. If the Tigers are willing to pay a little extra and maybe willing to part with a borderline top prospect they could probably pry Joaquin Benoit from the Padres and bring him back to the Motor City. Benoit pitched the last three seasons in Detroit before going to San Diego this year so the Tigers could possibly be skeptical to bring him back and basically admitting they never should have let him go no matter how much San Diego offered. Another possibility but one that is a long shot based on what the team would have to give up is Jonathan Papelbon. Philly should be looking to unload him especially because he has pitched very well as of late, but knowing Ruben Amaro Jr. he will ask for an exorbitant return because Philadelphia is so far away from competing that the ace of their next World Series Championship team probably isn’t born yet.

 

Other options to consider: Brad Boxberger (TB), Matt Guerrier (MIN), Jason Frasor (TEX)

 

Milwaukee Brewers

Positives- Pitching. MVP type season from Jonathan Lucroy. Health of main contributors.

Negatives- Depth.

 The Brewers opened up the season on a roll and haven’t looked back. Despite many pundits and analysts predicting they would come back to Earth and end the season around .500 they have been the best team in the National League for the whole first half of the season. When you’re on a three game losing streak but are still three games up on the next best team you know you’ve had a good season. The rotation has been lucky enough to stay healthy and pitch very well. Yovani Gallardo, Matt Garza, and Kyle Lohse is a very formidable top of the rotation but Marco Estrada and Wily Peralta have pitched exceptionally as well. One of the reasons the pitching staff has pitched so well is thanks to team MVP Jonathan Lucroy. Besides the great offensive numbers he’s putting up, Lucroy’s defense and most especially his tremendous pitch framing skills have helped the staff get some extra calls that may not have originally gone their way. Lucroy has taken such a leap this season with his play that he has arguably bypassed Yadier Molina as the best all-around catcher in the National League.

The main issue that will stop the Brewers from making some serious noise in the National League is their depth. They were lucky enough in the first half to have every main contributor stay on the field for the most part and not miss any significant time but in order to protect themselves against a reversal of fortune they need to acquire some depth. What the team really needs is a lefty hitting outfielder with a little bit of pop and a utility infielder that can help spell guys here and there because the likes of Elian Herrera just aren’t cutting it.

If I’m Milwaukee my first call is to Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay has no chance to do anything this season but word is that they are reluctant to go into full fire sale mode because they feel they can compete next year when back at full strength. So while they may not be willing to part with guys like David Price or Ben Zobrist, someone like Matt Joyce or Logan Forsythe should be open for discussion. Due to the emergence of Kevin Kiermaier, Matt Joyce is expendable. He can be platooned in left field with Khris Davis and gives them some pop off the bench from the left side. He could do very well in a hitter’s paradise such as Miller Park. Forsythe would bring some infield versatility as well which would help Milwaukee tremendously. Another lefty outfield bat I would explore is Dominic Brown of Philadelphia. He has performed at a level so bad that I’m not even sure there is a word to accurately describe it, but he could very well be a change of scenery away from breaking out of his season long funk.

Other options to consider: Eduardo Nunez, Chris Parmelee (MIN), Donnie Murphy (TEX), Josh Rutledge (COL), Chris Coghlan (CHC)

Well there you have it folks part one of our trade talk is in the books. We will be back tomorrow to take a look at two more teams needs and who they should be looking to go after.

Appreciating the Underappreciated

Appreciating the Underappreciated

 

 

If I were to ask you to name the team with the second best run differential in the majors, I would be willing to bet that there’s a good chance most couldn’t do it. Everyone knows the Oakland A’s are blowing the rest of the majors out of the water but that second team is somewhat trickier. If you guessed the Seattle Mariners then you my friend are very good at this game.

Now that you know the answer, the reasons why this is so could be coming into your head at a feverish pace. They have a rotation anchored by two of the best pitchers in baseball never mind the AL, they finally have a top tier middle of the order bat in Robinson Cano who has shown a penchant for driving in runs, and they have the best bullpen in baseball. All are very good reasons and all are definitely part of the equation. However, there’s one variable missing from the equation and that’s Kyle Seager.

Seager has always been a guy in the past that put up decent numbers considering half of his games were played at Safeco Field, but you always felt he could be so much better if he just got away from that cavernous pitcher’s paradise. This season not only is he having one of his better seasons, but he is producing at a far better clip at home than he is on the road.

Eleven of Seager’s twelve home runs have come at Safeco Field. 37 of his 54 RBIs have come at home. He is hitting .341 in the not so usually friendly confines of Safeco. He’s batting a Mendoza like .201 on the road but has five more doubles and four less walks away from Safeco. So how can a guy who is not a big power threat be hitting for power so phenomenally at a ballpark where power goes to die?

The answer I believe comes back to Cano. Seager has been steadily batting cleanup behind Cano for a while and every team that faces Seattle is not going to let Cano beat them. So while Cano is batting is .323 he only has 4 HRs and 43 RBIs. Those are very un-Cano like numbers as the All-Star Break approaches. However, he is having such an effect on this team and this lineup that Seager (the second best hitter on the team) is benefitting tremendously batting behind him.

Teams are much more willing to make a mistake with Seager than Cano but that should change real soon. He is a good enough hitter that if you force him to beat you he is going to do just that. The key for Seattle though is for their 1-2 hitters (currently Endy Chavez and James Jones) to keep getting on base and force teams to have to pitch to Cano and Seager. Lately that has been happening but with the Mariners we all know how quickly that can change.

Seattle does need a middle of the order right handed bat to help balance out the very lefty heavy order they currently have. Maybe that bat is Corey Hart when he is ready to return or maybe it’s acquired through a trade but with the best bullpen in the game, a very good rotation once Paxton and Walker return, and a potent combination of Cano and Seager this could be a very dangerous team down the stretch. Knowing full well how big a part pitching and defense play in winning a championship, the rest of baseball may have to travel the Yellow Brick Road through Emerald City to reach the Promised Land.

Almost Halfway Home Part 2

Almost Halfway Home

 

Yesterday we took a look at the American League and where things stand at the almost halfway point of the season. Today we will take a look at the National League. The NL in my opinion is a lot easier to figure out as there are six teams, two in each division, that are clearly better than the rest of the pack. The five playoff teams will all come from this group with one being left out in the cold. Let’s take a look at what’s happened thus far and what to expect going forward.

 

NL EAST

-Something about the East divisions is breeding mediocrity this season. Every team is still in the hunt but that unfortunately isn’t because of skill, more so because the two teams who are clearly the best in the division have failed to distance themselves. Come the second half I see that changing and Washington and Atlanta will separate themselves from the pack. The Nationals have dealt with a myriad of injuries but they are starting to get back the reinforcements needed. Gio Gonzalez just returned from a DL stint, Bryce Harper will be beginning his rehab assignment soon, and Wilson Ramos should be back any day now. Matt Williams will be faced with a tough challenge when his squad returns to full strength as he’s going to need to find at bats for a lot of guys and positions for them to play. Ryan Zimmerman has moved to left field and played well, and is also much more comfortable out there, allowing Anthony Rendon to move to third base (his natural position). When Harper comes back what do you do with Zimmerman? Playing him at third is a liability because of his arm and also moving Rendon back to second midway through the year could hurt his performance. So if you don’t make that move do you play Zimmerman at first? Adam LaRoche has been one of the best hitters on the team and taking him out of the lineup would be insane. Williams says it’s a good problem to have but I’ll be honest, I don’t want to be in his shoes making those decisions. Atlanta just recently lost their third pitcher to a season ending injury but luckily for them they sent Alex Wood down to the minors to get stretched out with the intention of starting. The decision to sit Dan Uggla despite his pay has finally been made and Tommy LaStella has been awesome. Giving them much better hitting and defense along with a top of the order spark plug has breathed some new life into the Braves. Speaking of awesome, Evan Gattis has played out of this world and should be making the trip to Minnesota for the All-Star Game. We all knew Gattis could swing the bat and be an offensive force but the question remained how he would perform defensively when catching every day. Well he’s passed that test and put those questions to rest. Is he an all world defender? Of course not, but he is playing well enough that he isn’t a liability to the team in the field. The Miami Marlins have been a pleasant surprise thanks in large part to a healthy Giancarlo Stanton and run producing machine Casey McGehee. Also, despite losing all world starter Jose Fernandez the rotation has been solid. Recent call up Andrew Heaney has shown that he is a player to watch in the future and pairing him up with a healthy Jose Fernandez will make this team a contender. The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies are both a non-contending mess so we’re going to kill two birds with one stone here. Both teams need changes at GM and a radical shift in drafting and development. The Mets future is brighter due to all their pitching talent but that talent needs to step up on the big league level and produce. Ruben Amaro Jr. somehow still has a job which is an amazing feat considering how terrible he has been as of late. However, given how terrible and dirty the city of Philly and its fans are it’s a good thing to see them suffer through this bad stretch. 

 

NL CENTRAL

-Coming into the season everyone predicted that the St. Louis Cardinals would run away with the NL Central and that it would be their division to lose. The Milwaukee Brewers heard this and collectively said “not so fast.” With excellent pitching, the return of Ryan Braun, and the national breakout of Jonathan Lucroy, the Brewers looked poised to take the division and leave St. Louis fighting for a wild card spot. The Cardinals are too good to miss the playoffs but all season they’ve sort of sputtered along not being able to go on a run like we are accustomed to seeing from them. Recent injuries and DL stints for Michael Wacha and Jaime Garcia won’t help matters but there is enough depth here to keep them afloat for the time being. The Pittsburgh Pirates were the story of the season last year but this year has been a completely different story. The starting pitching has been nowhere near the level it was a year ago and neither is Jason Grilli who has been demoted out of the closer role due to ineffectiveness. The Pirates have found a lineup fixture for years to come in uber prospect Gregory Polanco. Polanco is going to be a fantastic player and will form arguably the best outfield in all of baseball with Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen. Cincinnati has been a disappointment as well, underperforming compared to recent years. The only bright spot for them this year has been Cy Young frontrunner Johnny Cueto. With his Luis Tiant delivery and ability to get guys out despite pitching in the very hitter friendly Great American Ballpark, Cueto is very comfortably in the lead for the hardware come season’s end. The Chicago Cubs have stated all along that next year was the year they were going to spend money and have the kids in the farm system ready to play so this year was another throwaway for the Wrigley faithful. However, odds are the team will be trading both Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, which should fetch them some decent returns to add to the mix. Add in the continued improvement of Anthony Rizzo, and the forthcoming promotion of masher Kris Bryant and the hope is there in Chicago.

 

NL WEST

-Before the season began I predicted the Arizona Diamondbacks to win the NL West and be a dark horse contender for the World Series. Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Thanks to terrible play by everyone not named Goldschmidt or Montero that isn’t going to happen. The Diamondbacks were hit by the injury bug also but so have plenty of other teams that are playing through it much better. They gave up a lot of the wrong talent for guys they described as “gritty” fitting the mold of overrated manager Kirk Gibson and it has blown up in their face. Colorado is getting an MVP like season from Troy Tulowitzki who has managed to stay healthy. Their offensive numbers at home are unfathomable but their pitching numbers at home or on the road are not good at all. Tulowitzki has enough talent to keep the team relevant down the stretch but getting a wild card spot won’t happen. The San Diego Padres just recently fired their GM Josh Byrnes and with good reason because this team cannot hit and its “star” players would welcome the Mendoza Line with open arms. This is a team that may need to take the Houston Astros approach and just gut the whole team and farm system in order to start over. The two teams left in the division and virtual locks for the postseason (Giants and Dodgers), are going to be involved in a dogfight throughout the summer for control of the division. San Francisco has performed well above expectations, whereas the Dodgers have performed well below expectations but there is so much talent, especially on the pitching end for Los Angeles that they can still manage to stay in the race. Buster Posey has come to life as of late and Michael Morse has been a great signing for San Fran. GM Brian Sabean is known to be aggressive and go all in if he has to at the trade deadline (see Beltran, Carlos), and the results are mixed but the effort deserves applause. Look for this team to be a contender for David Price if Tampa trades him, which I think they will. Yasiel Puig is proving he is not a one year wonder and he is the barometer of the Dodgers through and through. As Puig goes, this team goes. They have great pitching and are starting to get positive contributions from Matt Kemp and Dee Gordon who looks like he has figured things out and is showing the talent we’ve all known was there.

As far as how I see things playing out in the National League, I truly do think it comes down to the six teams mentioned above. Five of them will make up the playoff field, it’s just a question of where they finish. One very good team will be left out but the race down the stretch will be an exciting one for sure.

NL East- Washington

NL Central- Milwaukee

NL West- Los Angeles

Wild Cards- San Francisco and St. Louis (just barely over Atlanta)

I see the Cardinals taking the Wild Card Game and moving on to face the Dodgers. Los Angeles will defeat St. Louis in the NLDS and Milwaukee will take care of Washington in a very tough hard fought series. The Dodgers will make the World Series an all West Coast affair and go on to face Oakland in the Fall Classic. The Dodgers would be a tough matchup for Oakland but I have to stick with my original prediction and say the Oakland Athletics will be taking home the Commissioner’s Trophy.

Almost Halfway Home

Almost Halfway Home

 

 

Time sure does fly when you’re having fun. We are somehow crazily approaching the halfway point of the 2014 MLB season and like most years we really haven’t figured much out when it comes to how things will end up come October. We’re going to take this opportunity to look at every division and how things are going thus far, and also predicting how things will turn out. Today we will look at the American League and tomorrow take a look at the National League.

AL EAST

-The AL East is one of the more confusing divisions in baseball. We know for sure that the Tampa Bay Rays are out of the race and Boston very well could be if they can’t get things together and start getting production from their outfield. Boston having a World Series hangover is certainly understandable but for now as much as I would like to count them out I can’t. This looks like it could very well be a three team race. The current division leaders are the Toronto Blue Jays, but both the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees are on their tail. Every one of these teams have glaring holes and are the definition of mediocre but someone has to win the division, even if they play like no one wants to. Toronto just got hit hard by the injury bug as Jose Bautista and Brett Lawrie are going to miss some time. Lawrie most likely more than Bautista. These injuries hurt a very good offense and a middle of the pack pitching staff. When Toronto was completely healthy they were the Major League version of a Peyton Manning team. Who cares how much they gave up because odds are they’re going to score more. If Toronto can swing a trade for Jeff Samardzija and get everyone healthy they could be the team that starts to run away with the division. Baltimore is being carried by Nelson Cruz and his 23 home runs and 60 RBI. Chris Davis, Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy and whomever they trot out there to play 2nd base have been inconsistent and playing far below their career lines. Cruz shouldn’t be able to keep up this production, so unless those guys step up and start showing improvement this team will fall out of the race in the second half. The Yankees have been somewhat of a surprise in the respect that they have a negative run differential but do have a winning record. Their problems are the same ones that were a concern at the beginning of the season. Their infield is atrocious, especially Derek Jeter. I know it’s sacreligious to speak ill of The Captain but he is both an offensive and defensive liability. Kelly Johnson may be the worst fielder in the history of the game and now that Yangervis Solarte came crashing back to Earth they have very few offensive weapons that are playing well. The good things as far as the Yankees are concerned this season are their bullpen, more specifically Adam Warren, Shawn Kelley, and the closer in waiting Dellin Betances. These guys have performed fantastically when given the opportunity to have a lead. Also, the Rookie of the Year and frontrunner for the Cy Young Award Masahiro Tanaka has eclipsed any expectations that may have been placed on him by management and fans. Every fifth day when he starts is appointment television and a game the Yankees are expected to win. I see the Yankees staying in contention for the division due to the overall mediocrity of the East and a deadline deal that will help them stay afloat. If Toronto cannot swing a trade for Samardzija or gets hit harder by injuries then this will be the Yankees division to lose. Otherwise, Drake will be able to party at the Rogers Centre with his hometown team and new favorite team.

AL CENTRAL

-The AL Central is arguably the most competitive division in the game this season. The Tigers, Royals, and Indians are at the top as expected but Minnesota and Chicago are not rolling over for anyone and are playing very competitively. The White Sox found a revelation in Jose Abreu who has torn the American League apart with his power stroke. He is among the league leaders in home runs and RBIs and is showing no signs of slowing down. They won’t be a contender this year but there are some pieces in place for the future. Minnesota was expected to be one of the worst, if not the worst team in the league but they have been extremely surprising. The biggest reason for their success is their very much improved pitching staff. Phil Hughes has been one of the best signings of the offseason and should be finding his way onto the All-Star team in his home park. Many people wrote him off after his disappointing stint with the Yankees but his stuff and his attitude were never the problem. He was a fly ball pitcher playing in a sandbox at Yankee Stadium. Now that he is pitching in a bigger park and one much more pitcher friendly he is thriving. The Indians are technically in the AL Central race but thanks to an extremely inconsistent offense I don’t see them going to the postseason this year. The Kansas City Royals have gotten themselves right in the middle of the division race and could very well win it thanks to an excellent pitching staff and excellent defense. They do however need to hit better if they want to stay in the thick of things, especially for power. They’ve done better lately with the power numbers after they were nonexistent to start the season but still need to improve. I don’t see any kind of dramatic trade deadline move from them but they were my preseason pick to win the division and I’m going to stick with it. The Tigers are a very unusual team. They are good there’s no question about that, but this year seems to be a year in which they are the most beatable they’ve been in a while. Justin Verlander has been terribly inconsistent, they have the worst bullpen in the game, and they get no production from the shortstop position. Despite all of that though, with guys like Scherzer and Sanchez and bats like Miguel Cabrera’s, Ian Kinsler’s and Victor Martinez’s this team isn’t missing out on the postseason. Whether they win the division or grab one of the two wild card spots this is a playoff team. One or two minor bullpen tweaks will be what decides their fate and whether they raise another division banner or are forced to play a one and done wildcard game.

AL WEST

-If the AL East has been the most mediocre division and the AL Central the most competitive, the AL West may very well be the most fun. Things aren’t necessarily shaking out the way many predicted but these teams from top to bottom are great to watch. The Houston Astros are still the worst team in the division but with call ups of Springer and Singleton and the development of guys like Altuve, Castro, Dominguez, Keuchel, and Cosart, fans are starting to see what all the hype was about when the farm system was being rebuilt. I wholeheartedly believe this team will dominate this division in 2-3 years but for now they can take solace in the fact that they are much more competitive and no team is treating them like a doormat anymore. No team in baseball this year and possibly in recent history has been hit harder by injuries than the Texas Rangers. Whether it be their rotation, their big money run producer, or the bullpen, there is no area of the team that has gone unscathed. Ron Washington has done a great job with the hand he was dealt and deserves a lot of credit but this team has to chalk this season up as a loss and look to come back strong next season. The Seattle Mariners are an improved team thanks to Robinson Cano and his hitting prowess, even if that hitting hasn’t resulted in many home runs. The pitching is good as usual with rotation anchors Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma pitching well. The bullpen is improved but the story as always with Seattle is the offense. They play in the Sahara Desert a.k.a. Safeco Field, where offense goes to die, and it doesn’t help that other than Cano there isn’t one above average hitter or threat in the lineup. Their pitching will keep them in a lot of games and I could see them lasting until the end for the second wild card spot but they will come up short. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim finally have a respectable rotation and a healthy team around Mike Trout so it should be no surprise then that they are winning. Like the Tigers this team suffers from an abysmal bullpen, so look for them to be very active come the trade deadline and after with waiver wire deals. Garrett Richards has been spectacular this year and is overtaking Jered Weaver as the best pitcher on the staff and the ace of the staff. I see these Angels making the improvements they need and grabbing one of the wild card spots. A matchup against the Tigers in the one and done game is a very good possibility and a game no fan should miss if it happens. Last but not least we have the best and most entertaining team in all of baseball the Oakland Athletics. Despite losing their top two starters in spring training the A’s have amassed the best record in baseball and have an unheard of run differential of +135. The next closest team, the San Francisco Giants, trails them by 86 runs. I predicted before the season started that not only would Oakland win the AL West again but would go on to win the World Series. They’ve done nothing to make me sway from that decision and have actually made my belief even stronger. Oakland is clearly the best and deepest team in baseball and the only thing that can stop them is themselves.

Once the trade deadline passes the picture in the American League will become that much clearer. As of right now very few teams are actually out of the race but that will change soon. Putting my prognosticating hat on once more I see things ending like this:

AL East-Toronto

AL Central-Kansas City

AL West-Oakland

Wild Cards-Detroit and Anaheim

 

From there I see Oakland getting over their Detroit hump of recent years just as it took the Pistons time to get past the Celtics and the Bulls to get past the Pistons back in the late 80’s and early 90’s of the NBA. Due to better pitching and better defense I see Kansas City making a real statement in their first playoff appearance in 29 years and taking care of business against Toronto and reaching the ALCS. The Cinderella story ends there though as Oakland will be too much for Kansas City to handle and the Athletics make the World Series for the first time since 1990 and the days of the Bash Brothers.

We will be back tomorrow to take a look at the National League and how things will shake out in the Senior Circuit. Who will win their divisions? Who will face Oakland in the World Series? Check in tomorrow for those answers and more.