The New York Mets and Generation K 2.0

The New York Mets and Generation K 2.0

 

If you’re a lover of pitching than look no further than the New York Mets. There will be an arms race in Flushing that would make Americans and Soviets blush. Young power arms, veteran placeholders; you name it the Mets have it. What they don’t have is an offense or any hope of one in the future without a few moves. David Wright can’t do everything by himself, despite what the World Baseball Classic may have you believe.

The Mets have a lot of offensive needs but the most pressing is shortstop. Ruben Tejada cannot get out of the starting lineup fast enough, and there are options out there. Before the season starts something needs to be done at the position. Whether it’s giving in to Stephen Drew and his opt out clause, trading for either more offensive minded Chris Owings or defensive minded Didi Gregorius in Arizona, or trading for and renting Asdrubal Cabrera from Cleveland because with Francisco Lindor on the way they don’t need Cabrera. Having a replacement ready will lower the demand from Cleveland as far as what they get back, and it gives the Mets the inside edge to signing Cabrera to an extension after the season. Playing in New York with David Wright and all the young arms long term is a proposition that many shouldn’t pass up.

They also need to hope that Travis D’Arnaud develops into the player that he has projected to be for what seems like forever now. He is an injury risk and a guy who had been traded twice before ever seeing a Major League field, so the question marks are there. Curtis Granderson is in a steep decline and the inflated home run numbers will disappear with no short porch in right field. Chris Young has never been good except for stretches here and there. For 2-3 weeks he may look like the best player in the game and then he will fall back to Earth hard.

Enough with the doom and gloom let’s get to the optimism. There are very few teams, if any, who can lose their ace for an entire season (Let’s be real, if the Mets pitch Harvey at all at the end of the season Collins and Alderson should be immediately fired) and not miss much of a step when it comes to the roatation. Zack Wheeler has looked great in Spring Training thus far and will only get better. Noah Syndergaard doesn’t necessarily have to start the season with the big club, but if he were to do so he can handle it. Either way, it will not be long before you see him anyway. Bartolo Colon dominated the American League on steroids so if he’s clean he should handle the National League pretty easily. Jon “Nosejob” Niese is working his way back from injury and is slated to pitch Opening Day for the second year in a row. If he can stay healthy he gives them a good lefty arm and a solid back end of the rotation starter. Rafael Montero will probably see action come September and will be another arm to add to the stable. Pitching in offensive gold mine Las Vegas, Montero dominated logging a 2.87 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in nine home starts.

Having all these arms in cavernous Citi Field will be a joy to watch, unlike Ike Davis and Lucas Duda at bats. Sandy Alderson made the statement that this team can win 90 games, and I completely understand why he said it but he needs to add better bats around David Wright before that can realistically happen.

We will be back tomorrow with a look at the very active, although not much improved Baltimore Orioles. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.

What a Difference a Year Makes

What a Difference a Year Makes

 

 

At this time last year the Toronto Blue Jays were projected as World Series favorites based on a major trade with the Miami Marlins. As we all know, that didn’t play out so well for the birds from up north. Fast forward to one year later, and virtually the same team on the field and most people will tell you this team is going nowhere, and they are right.

The competition from the rest of the division is fierce no matter what, but Toronto hasn’t done anything to upgrade their team. They were hit by injuries pretty hard, but even when healthy this team showed it was not very good. Banking on good health to bring you to the Promised Land when you’re mediocre at best is laughable. Something I said last year held true and I don’t see anything changing this year. They are counting on Jose Reyes, a guy who has had countless leg problems in his career to play 91 games on artificial turf and be a spark plug at the top of the order and set the table for everyone else. Not a good recipe for success from arguably your most dynamic player. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion are being counted on to be the power source and run producers, which is not the worst thing in the world if one can stay healthy and the other wasn’t mini Adam Dunn (HR, K,or BB). 

On the pitching side of things there’s R.A. Dickey who cannot thank the National League and Citi Field enough for his inflated Cy Young winning stats. The A.L. East knocked him around last year and this year will be no different. Then there’s Brandon Morrow who may as well be the model for the MLB version of Operation. The guy has had so many injuries his Baseball Reference page links to WebMD. The team’s only saving grace is their bullpen which is fantastic, but will wear down fairly quickly from overuse if the starters can’t get anyone out. 

Toronto is by far the worst team in the A.L. East and there’s no sign of that changing anytime soon. Like their brothers in the NBA the Blue Jays are great uniforms and a bad product. However, unlike their brothers in the NBA they won’t be lucky enough to walk into the worst division in the sport.

We will be back tomorrow with a look at the New York Mets and Generation K 2.0. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.

Can the Mile High City Finally Depend on Health and Pitching?

Can the Mile High City Finally Depend on Health and Pitching?

 

 

Offense has never been a problem in Colorado. The thin air of the Rocky Mountains provides a boost to even the most mundane offenses. The Colorado Rockies are built offensively to sustain success in this environment. The problem is that their pitching staff is not and they can never get lucky when it comes to health. 

The Rockies lay claim to two of the most dynamic players in the game but these guys cannot stay on the field. Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez are a mighty righty-lefty punch that any lineup would welcome, but building around two injury prone stars presents the problem that the Rockies have faced the last few years. No matter what complimentary pieces you surround these guys with, and no matter what they accomplish (Michael Cuddyer being the 2013 NL Batting Champion), the stars need to be on the field and producing.

This season will be the first without the greatest player in team history Todd Helton so there will be a big void in leadership. Besides Tulo and Car-Go there are pieces here. Wilin Rosario is a good young backstop and Nolan Arenado may very well be the best defensive third baseman in the National League. Cuddyer is coming off the batting title and is a good clubhouse presence to have around in order to keep things loose. Justin Morneau isn’t quite the player he used to be but he can still get on base and knock in some runs when he has to. Once again though, the offense is not the problem here; it all comes down to pitching.

The Rockies made moves to improve and while I like what they’ve done, it again comes down to health. Jorge de la Rosa, Juan Nicasio, and Jhoulys Chacin can be effective in Colorado but all have injury problems. The additions of Brett Anderson and Jordan Lyles were decent moves, but Anderson also has his problems with injuries and Lyles may not be more than a long reliever or righty bullpen specialist. The Rockies also have Jonathan Gray down on the farm; a guy they and I both feel can be the future ace of the staff. The earliest fans will see him, if at all, will be in September where he can showcase what he offers and give a glimpse at the future.

I do not see Colorado making the playoffs this year but I do feel they are trending upward and going in the right direction. It’s asking way too much for Tulowitzki and Gonzalez to be completely healthy but they can hopefully play in at least 125 games. That may not sound like much but for them that would be great. Arenado will keep improving and will bring his offensive prowess closer to matching his defense. Patience is the key because in two years I see this team being an NL powerhouse.

We will be back tomorrow with a look at what a difference a year makes in Toronto. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.

Mauer and Not Much Else For the Time Being

Mauer and Not Much Else For the Time Being

 

 Despite spending money on pitching to help an absolutely atrocious rotation, the Minnesota Twins are not better off. There’s a big difference between spending money on pitching and spending money on bodies to change up the staff. Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco are not rotation savers or guys you want to invest a lot of money in. Now some people will say that Hughes will be so much better off being away from Yankee Stadium and inside the friendly pitcher confines of Target Field. To that I say, I’m a Yankee fan, at no point did I ever have confidence in Hughes as a starter. It doesn’t matter where he pitches, he cannot consistently get guys out. Same goes for Nolasco and these are the guys Minnesota wants anchoring their staff.

Offensively, besides Joe Mauer and aging veterans Jason Kubel and Josh Willingham, there’s not much there. Sure, the future is very bright with uber prospect and Mike Trout-esque Byron Buxton on the horizon and Miguel Sano who was being hyped as the next big thing power wise before needing Tommy John Surgery. Now as far as Sano is concerned who knows how good he will be after experiencing this injury. Knowing you’re right on the cusp of the show and having to go through this procedure and strenuous rehab can really take a lot out of a player. 

2014 is going to amount to nothing but a wasted season both for the team and for Joe Mauer in his prime. One of the best hitters in the game in the last 10 years and his time is being wasted in Minnesota. Being in a division with perennial World Series favorite Detroit and the much improved Indians, Royals, and White Sox leaves Minnesota to be the punching bag for everyone else to train on.  

 

We will be back tomorrow with a look at the Colorado Rockies and what to expect this season in the Mile High City. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.

 

The Phenom and The Four Aces Ready to Take D.C. By Storm Once Again

The Phenom and the Four Aces Ready to Take D.C. By Storm Once Again

 

 

 

2013 was a year the Nationals want to forget about. Coming into the season they were a favorite to reach the World Series, coming off their first playoff appearance in Washington. Once the season started the injuries began to mount, the role players and complimentary pieces couldn’t carry the team, the bench was as unproductive as it could be, and the bullpen was nowhere near as effective as it should have been.

As long as this team can stay healthy they should be the favorite in the NL East. They acquired Nate McLouth to help shore up the bench, along with moving Danny Espinosa to the bench as well to make room for Anthony Rendon for the whole season. Rendon should be a very welcome presence in the lineup with the experience he gained last year and his continued maturation. I see Wilson Ramos having a big year this year and doing a lot of work to help Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth carry the offensive load. If Harper can stay injury free not only can he be an MVP but he could help lead this team to the best record in baseball.

I would just like to take a second to praise Jayson Werth for everything he has done in Washington. Is he overpaid? Absolutely he is but when he signed with Washington it was when Strasburg and Harper were nothing but hype and in order to attract a free agent of his caliber the team had to overpay. He comes to the park every day and plays hard and even if he isn’t putting up stats that match his paychecks he is doing one hell of a job being the player he always has been. He is without a doubt one of the most underrated players in the game today as far as I’m concerned.

As much as the offense needs to improve, which as I said I believe it will because they will stay healthy, the pitching is what will determine where this team ends the season. Strasburg is completely healed and ready to go, Gio Gonzalez will continue to be a solid starter, the most underrated pitcher in the game Jordan Zimmermann is a bulldog and could be an ace on many other teams. Add in Doug Fister who should have great success in the National League, and his ability to pitch deep into games and eat up innings and the bullpen will not have to be relied upon as heavily as last season.

Atlanta will regress from last year and the rest of the division is nowhere near as talented. So as long as everything goes well for them they will be playing October baseball. With their pitching staff in a playoff format who knows how deep of a run they can make. One thing is for certain, it’s going to be a fun summer in D.C.

We will be back tomorrow with a look at the Minnesota Twins and their revamped rotation. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.
 

Keep Calm Astros Fans Because the Kids Are On The Way

Keep Calm Astros Fans Because the Kids Are On The Way

 

2014 will not be the Astros year. They have improved and spent some money this offseason but they are still not a contender. However, next year will be a different story. With guys like Carlos Correa, Mark Appel, George Springer, and Delino DeShields Jr. joining Jared Cosart, Matt Dominguez, Dexter Fowler, Scott Feldman, Jason Castro and Johnathan Singleton in the Majors they will be a team to watch out for.

This is a young team with some guys who know they are playing now for a backup spot next year or will be on a different team altogether. So even if the talent level isn’t what it should be they will play with plenty of fire and heart and should make the team an interesting watch on Extra Innings.

They have come a long way from having one of, if not the worst farm systems in baseball, now having one of the best. When you’re picking high in the draft year after year that will tend to happen but they have definitely done a great job scouting and developing the future talent. All of the guys mentioned above will make a big impact when the time comes and the Astros will be well on their way back to consistent playoff appearances like in the days of the Killer B’s.

Another positive for this team is manager Bo Porter. He works well with the younger guys and is a phenomenal teacher. He has been sending his team inspirational quotes through text message every day at 6:45AM, his way of showing them they need to fight and work hard for everything as nothing is given. He is exactly the type of manager this team needs and guys seem to legitimately love playing for him.

The oranges at Minute Maid Park may not be ripe for the picking yet but the time is edging closer. Consider yourselves warned American League.

We will be back tomorrow with a look at the best pitching staff in baseball, the Washington Nationals. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.

Can the Snakes Take a Bite Out of the Dodgers in the NL West?

Can the Snakes Take a Bite Out of the Dodgers in the NL West?

 

Every prognosticator will make one bold prediction when forecasting the season whether it has to do with a player or a team. Well, here is mine for the 2014 season. The Arizona Diamondbacks will win the NL West and very well could go on to represent the National League in the Fall Classic. At this point those of you reading this may think I’m crazy and that’s fine. If the D-Backs finish terribly I won’t hide from the prediction. This is a deep team with a great mix of veterans and young talent and they are being led by a manager who knows what it takes to win.

The Diamondbacks two big offseason moves came in both a trade and a free agent signing. The trade brought Mark Trumbo to the desert, one of the best and youngest pure power hitters in the game. He will be playing left field with perennial MVP candidate Paul Goldscmidt entrenched at first base. His defense in left field will improve but certainly does not grade out to be a strong suit. The DBacks are perfectly fine with this as they have A.J. Pollock in center, a guy who can definitely cover ground and will even be able to shade towards left with Gerardo Parra in right field and arguably the best defensive outfielder in all of baseball. The Diamondbacks want one thing from Trumbo and that is to mash home runs. Paired up with Goldschmidt they form a potent combination I like to call the New Age Bash Brothers.

Also calling Arizona his new home is Addison Reed. Reed will slide right into the closer’s position and shore up the back end of a bullpen that certainly needed some shoring up. He allows everyone else to move up into a spot where they are more comfortable. Joining Reed on the pitching side of things is innings eater and tremendously underrated Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo has done nothing but rank first in the National League in starts, wins, and innings pitched since 2006 and has pitched at least 199 innings in 9 consecutive seasons. He joins Patrick Corbin and Wade Miley to shore up a starting rotation that measures out well in the division. Phenom and top prospect Archie Bradley will be joining them at some point, whether it is to start the season or later on to hold off his arbitration clock from starting too early. Bradley has looked tremendous and will push an already good rotation over the top. He will not have to be the man or the saving grace so there will be no pressure on him. He can go out and pitch with no worries.

In addition to everything that has already been stated the Diamondbacks also have solid veterans such as Miguel Montero, Eric Chavez, Cody Ross, and Martin Prado (possibly one of the best all-around players in the game) to help coach up and develop their young players like Pollock and shortstop combination Chris Owings and Didi Gregorius. Gregorius is the front runner to win the position according to General Manager Kevin Towers, due in part to his superior glove on the defensive end of things. The DBacks also have shortstop prospect Nick Ahmed rising quickly through the ranks. Shortstop is a premium position and having a surplus of talent is not the worst thing in the world. The DBacks could use that trade chip and ship one of these guys off and get back some bullpen help or a backup catcher who can help ease the load of Montero behind the plate.

Summers in Arizona are guaranteed to bring the heat and this Diamondbacks team will kick things up a few degrees in the desert. The already built in rivalry with the Dodgers made those games must watch, but now with this team breathing down their necks and ready to overtake them the season opening set in the Land Down Under cannot get here fast enough.

 We will be back tomorrow with a look at the bright future in Houston. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.