It has been two months almost since the start of the 2007 baseball season and the pressure and anxiety is already reaching record levels in the Bronx. With a 22-29 record, tied for last in the AL East with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Yankees sit 13 1/2 games back of the scorching first place Red Sox. This is unacceptable to owner George Steinbrenner who was worked to build an empire that expects to win. No media is more harsh than the one assembled in New York, leaving the players to fend off daily questions regarding their start to the season.
With all that has gone wrong for the Yankees this year, everyone needs to take a step back and remember that the season is only two months old. It is the nature of the business to point the finger and talk about everything negative when the wins aren't coming and expectations are being missed by a mile. It is impossible to keep track of how many times manager Joe Torre and GM Brian Cashman's jobs have been put "on the line" already this season. I am not sure why pointing the finger is what sells in business today, but it is tiring to hear report after report about whose fault it is when a team isn't doing well.
The truth behind all of this is that it is baseball. That's it. Teams get off to bad starts, superstar players fall into slumps, and rosters get depleted, sometimes severely, with injuries. It is the nature of the sport and it's what makes us recognized and applaud the great achievements in the game, because we have an understanding of how difficult it actually is to play at such a high level. Alex Rodriguez can't catch a break when it comes to the public ribbing. Not only does he have to answer daily to why the team isn't winning, but the majority of the media is trying to bring him down with it. Society likes to see the best in the business fail. Jealousy, greed, who knows.
Although nobody wants to point out the positives or the reasons to continue to take an optomistic outlook to the season, I'll pick up the slack and offer a few opinions. Roger Clemens is making his season debut on Monday in Chicago. This will be a nice lift to the rotation that has been hit with numerous injuries, and is being overwhelmed with the pressure to cover for the recent struggling offense. Clemens will bring leadership, which not much should be needed in that clubhouse, and the competitive fire needed to win and endure the slump the Yankees are in right now. He is still a front line starting pitcher in the big leagues, and will lead the resurgence when he arrives. I don't think it is fair to label Clemens as a savior though because, as we all know, it takes much more than one guy to pick up a team. Clemens takes the ball one out of every five days. There are four much needed games in between that must be handled in order for the Yankees to climb back into the race.
The other positive that the Yankees can lean on is the fact that they have nothing but health coming back, knock on wood. With so many injuries early on, they can look forward to continuing to add another piece to their roster as a player makes his way back. This will be vital after the All-Star break when they will be in contention. Baseball has a funny way of humbling you, and also a nice way to reward you as well. The Yankees can't play much worse overall than they have already. As the game of baseball goes, this will not go on for the entire season. There will come a point where they get hot as a team, and will start making up some serious ground on the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox, on the other hand, have been playing about as best as you can play so far, without any serious injuries. As the baseball gods will have it, their tear through the entire American League right now will not continue at the pace it is. They too will hit a slump and have to battle with players heading to the DL.
With all of those factors in place, the Yankees really should be able to keep the faith as they continue to march on. Humility comes at an expensive price sometimes, and this is only a piece of humble pie. With the leadership on that veteran roster, you can bet that the Bombers will continue to show up and play hard. If you continue to do that, baseball in itself will reward you and things will turn out for the better. The fans, owner, media, and any others who have expressed their disgruntled feelings have had the time to pout and feel sorry for the New York Yankees. It is indeed time to turn the page and start focusing all thoughts, words, and energy on what can be done better and what will allow the Yankees to creep back into contention. It is plenty hard already to battle through the grind of the season and "keep your eye on the prize" through the struggles. If athletics were perfect, then we wouldn't be able to identify the winners at the end of the season. So why are we making the game more difficult than it already is?
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Carlos Zambrano's Energy Good For Game
Disappointed that FOX wasn't picking up the Detroit/Cleveland game in the Los Angeles County on Saturday afternoon, I tuned into the Dodgers/Cubs telecast instead. What did I see? Carlos Zambrano, a starting pitcher for the Cubs, busting down the first base line on a weak check swing ground ball to the shortstop. Excuse me? I was pleasantly surprised to see this in an era where pitchers, among some position players even, will lightly jog down the line, not wanting to use up too much energy. And it is accepted because after all, a pitcher's job is to throw the baseball over the plate.
The Cubs were up 3-0 with 2 outs in the top of the 4th inning and a runner on first. Zambrano checked his swing and made contact with a Mark Hendrickson offering, sending a chopper to the shortstop. Any other pitcher and he is thrown out by six steps on what is a play that mose baserunners should be smelling a hit on. Zambrano layed it all out and beat the throw, setting up Alfonso Soriano's basehit to increase the lead to 4-0 Cubs.
Zambrano is often critized for his over-the-top emotions on the field and his third-person rants in the media. Form your own opinion, but I am convinced that this is the type of energy that fuels the game of baseball. Major League Baseball needs more guys like this who play hard all the time, even paying attention to the littlest detail of running hard to first.
Most players do hustle and play hard, and all of them have their own type of fire in one way or another. But Carlos Zambrano, any unappreciated antics aside, is great for baseball and is a great model for kids on how to play the game. Nobody will lay it out on the line more than he will, and that is what every player should strive to be like. That effort and passion fuels the game and continues to write the history and tradition of America's pastime.
The Cubs were up 3-0 with 2 outs in the top of the 4th inning and a runner on first. Zambrano checked his swing and made contact with a Mark Hendrickson offering, sending a chopper to the shortstop. Any other pitcher and he is thrown out by six steps on what is a play that mose baserunners should be smelling a hit on. Zambrano layed it all out and beat the throw, setting up Alfonso Soriano's basehit to increase the lead to 4-0 Cubs.
Zambrano is often critized for his over-the-top emotions on the field and his third-person rants in the media. Form your own opinion, but I am convinced that this is the type of energy that fuels the game of baseball. Major League Baseball needs more guys like this who play hard all the time, even paying attention to the littlest detail of running hard to first.
Most players do hustle and play hard, and all of them have their own type of fire in one way or another. But Carlos Zambrano, any unappreciated antics aside, is great for baseball and is a great model for kids on how to play the game. Nobody will lay it out on the line more than he will, and that is what every player should strive to be like. That effort and passion fuels the game and continues to write the history and tradition of America's pastime.
Cleveland and Detroit: Elite Weekend Matchup
The top two powers in the AL Central square off this weekend with Saturday's matinee being a marque matchup. The Indians took the Friday night game to give them a 1/2 game lead over the Detroit Tigers. This is the type of series that baseball fans everywhere live for. Even if it is an out of market game for others across the country, this weekend should provide plenty of enjoyment for viewers.
The AL Central has four legitimate playoff teams, making it the scariest, and toughest division in all of baseball. The Sunday Night game on ESPN will be in Detroit, but I am excited about what is taking place on Satruday. Just underway in the Motor City, Justin Verlander is squaring off against C.C. Sabathia. There aren't too many games throughout a season where two Cy Young-caliber pitchers go head-to-head. Verlander is off to a great start, entering Saturday's contest with a 5-1 record and a 2.68 ERA. Sabathia hasn't disappointed either, bringing a 6-1 record and a 3.51 ERA to the mound.
Typically, the best games take place in September or later because memories are etched into history in the postseason. But part of what makes baseball such a great sport is the incredibly long season, enduring the ups and downs, and enjoying each day as it comes. As fans, this game allows us to sit back and indeed enjoy a great ballgame in May. Nothing as far as the division races has been settled, but that doesn't take away from the joy that we get from being at the ballpark on a Sunday afternoon. There is no other place that came be more relaxing, theraputic, thrilling, exciting, or any other emotion you wish to throw in there than a baseball game. So for all weekend baseball watchers, grab an ice cold beverage and tune into Detroit(hopefully your area is getting that FOX game) because the "May flowers" of pitching matchups is here. Enjoy.
The AL Central has four legitimate playoff teams, making it the scariest, and toughest division in all of baseball. The Sunday Night game on ESPN will be in Detroit, but I am excited about what is taking place on Satruday. Just underway in the Motor City, Justin Verlander is squaring off against C.C. Sabathia. There aren't too many games throughout a season where two Cy Young-caliber pitchers go head-to-head. Verlander is off to a great start, entering Saturday's contest with a 5-1 record and a 2.68 ERA. Sabathia hasn't disappointed either, bringing a 6-1 record and a 3.51 ERA to the mound.
Typically, the best games take place in September or later because memories are etched into history in the postseason. But part of what makes baseball such a great sport is the incredibly long season, enduring the ups and downs, and enjoying each day as it comes. As fans, this game allows us to sit back and indeed enjoy a great ballgame in May. Nothing as far as the division races has been settled, but that doesn't take away from the joy that we get from being at the ballpark on a Sunday afternoon. There is no other place that came be more relaxing, theraputic, thrilling, exciting, or any other emotion you wish to throw in there than a baseball game. So for all weekend baseball watchers, grab an ice cold beverage and tune into Detroit(hopefully your area is getting that FOX game) because the "May flowers" of pitching matchups is here. Enjoy.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Update: Yankees vs. Red Sox, Bronx, New York
The New York Yankees have come out swinging against Boston's Curt Schilling in the rubber game of the three game set in the Bronx. After two innings, the Bombers enjoy a 4-0 lead. This game is pivotal for the Yankees, even though a win would still only bring them 9 1/2 games within first-place Boston. A series win here would gain a little comfidence going into a weekend series against the Angels, which could help get New York back on the right track.
It seems as if the Yankees aren't sitting back so far tonight and hoping that success will come their way. They are taking it to the Red Sox, setting the tone for the way they want to consistently play. The Yankees are running the bases much more aggresively which is clearly putting more pressure on the Boston defense. The up-tempo style allows their power lineup to create even more damage with runners in motion.
Hideki Matsui got the offense started with a 3-run homerun in the top of the 1st, even before Schilling recorded his first out. The side-story in this game so far has surrounded Derek Jeter. With Jeter's second hit of the night in the bottom of the second, he passed Joe Dimaggio on the all-time Yankee hit list. This is a great honor for a great player, one who is the perfect example of what ball players should strive to be.
It seems as if the Yankees aren't sitting back so far tonight and hoping that success will come their way. They are taking it to the Red Sox, setting the tone for the way they want to consistently play. The Yankees are running the bases much more aggresively which is clearly putting more pressure on the Boston defense. The up-tempo style allows their power lineup to create even more damage with runners in motion.
Hideki Matsui got the offense started with a 3-run homerun in the top of the 1st, even before Schilling recorded his first out. The side-story in this game so far has surrounded Derek Jeter. With Jeter's second hit of the night in the bottom of the second, he passed Joe Dimaggio on the all-time Yankee hit list. This is a great honor for a great player, one who is the perfect example of what ball players should strive to be.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Vizqeul Still Dazzles On 'D
I tuned in to the San Francisco/Colorado game Saturday night largely in part because Barry Zito was on the mound. I enjoy watching great pitchers perform whenever the opportunity presents itself, but what I was amazed with had nothing to do with Barry Zito. At 40-years-old, Omar Vizquel continues to amaze with the glove.
Vizquel, an 11-time Gold Glove winner, makes routine play after routine play look monotonous. Even the great plays look somewhat easy, even though only a baseball fan can comprehend the level of difficulty involved. It is evident when a professional takes extreme pride in their craft. All Major League players do, that is why they are there. But there is still something that sets Vizquel apart. After seeing an uncountable amount of baseball games, you can pick out the plays that look like extra energy is exerted. With Vizquel, that is exactly what I cannot do.
Willie Taveras hit a high chopper up the middle, just to the short-stop side of second base, and the first thing that came to mind, keeping in mind Taveras's speed, was, "Man that is going to be trouble". I was almost certain it would be a base hit, but I waited eagerly. Vizquel comes charging in, fields the ball with both hands on his right foot, and then in the time he has taken his next step to his left foot, the ball is out and on its way to first. It was not a cannon that required an off-balance throw. Just a quick release with a flip behind it, and the throw beat Taveras by about four steps. A well above-average play, Vizquel made it look like any other grounder he shags during batting practice.
Only the required amount of force is used, everything else settles into place simply like leaves gently falling to the ground. Baseball is not recognized for its athleticism as much as other sports, but this was one of the most graceful and athletic movements I have ever seen. The play will not be on SportsCenter, because it was something Vizquel can do in his sleep. Only an eye for detail can realize, and appreciate, the beauty involved.
It is sad that the game is built around long homeruns and triple digit radar gun readings. Those feats are just as much amazing in their own right, but nothing allows for more creativity and elegance than flashing the leather on the diamond. An off-balance catch and throw, glove-hand flip, or over-the-shoulder catch are the less noticed but most pure displays of athletic talent. These moments are the closest thing there is to physical poetry, if there is such a thing. I always look for the unnoticed details that escape the public eye but fill the depth of the game of baseball. This particular one happened to come gift wrapped from Omar Vizquel. Vizquel has been recognized 11 times for filling our summer days and nights with awe. The poetic similiarity is always there, and to experience and appreciate it only takes the eye and the courage to allow yourself to dive in.
Vizquel, an 11-time Gold Glove winner, makes routine play after routine play look monotonous. Even the great plays look somewhat easy, even though only a baseball fan can comprehend the level of difficulty involved. It is evident when a professional takes extreme pride in their craft. All Major League players do, that is why they are there. But there is still something that sets Vizquel apart. After seeing an uncountable amount of baseball games, you can pick out the plays that look like extra energy is exerted. With Vizquel, that is exactly what I cannot do.
Willie Taveras hit a high chopper up the middle, just to the short-stop side of second base, and the first thing that came to mind, keeping in mind Taveras's speed, was, "Man that is going to be trouble". I was almost certain it would be a base hit, but I waited eagerly. Vizquel comes charging in, fields the ball with both hands on his right foot, and then in the time he has taken his next step to his left foot, the ball is out and on its way to first. It was not a cannon that required an off-balance throw. Just a quick release with a flip behind it, and the throw beat Taveras by about four steps. A well above-average play, Vizquel made it look like any other grounder he shags during batting practice.
Only the required amount of force is used, everything else settles into place simply like leaves gently falling to the ground. Baseball is not recognized for its athleticism as much as other sports, but this was one of the most graceful and athletic movements I have ever seen. The play will not be on SportsCenter, because it was something Vizquel can do in his sleep. Only an eye for detail can realize, and appreciate, the beauty involved.
It is sad that the game is built around long homeruns and triple digit radar gun readings. Those feats are just as much amazing in their own right, but nothing allows for more creativity and elegance than flashing the leather on the diamond. An off-balance catch and throw, glove-hand flip, or over-the-shoulder catch are the less noticed but most pure displays of athletic talent. These moments are the closest thing there is to physical poetry, if there is such a thing. I always look for the unnoticed details that escape the public eye but fill the depth of the game of baseball. This particular one happened to come gift wrapped from Omar Vizquel. Vizquel has been recognized 11 times for filling our summer days and nights with awe. The poetic similiarity is always there, and to experience and appreciate it only takes the eye and the courage to allow yourself to dive in.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Beckett Coming Into His Own
Josh Beckett toes the rubber tonight for the Boston Red Sox as they open up in Toronto. Beckett, off to the best start in his career, is looking to improve to 7-0 on the year. His ERA currently sits at a cool 2.72. Beckett is starting to show the ace-like performance that Beantown has been waiting for.
The righthander has always had electric stuff, but like many young pitchers, struggled with consistency and command. Beckett would dominate one outing and then be very average the next. That is not the case this year as he is turning in quality start after quality start. Curt Schilling has been saying how great this kid will be for some time now. It is not as if he hasn't shown what's inside that right arm. His Game 7 masterpiece in the 2003 World Series as a 23-year old at Yankee Stadium pitching for the Florida Marlins is one of the best games I have ever seen someone pitch. The difference this year, according to many scouts, is that he is harnessing his stuff and learning what it means to pitch.
Beckett no longer reaches back for 98-mph every pitch. He is mixing in a good change and breaking ball, while varying the speeds on his fastball. His splitter is and will continue to be a great out pitch. Hitters shouldn't get too comfortable in the box though, as he will reach back and pound the inside part of the plate. The Texas native has always been known for his bulldog mentality. That hasn't been any more evident than this year as Beckett quietly emerges as the leader of what arguably could be considered the best rotation in baseball. Mental toughness doesn't mean too much when your ERA is above 5.00 and you give 30 plus homeruns, as Beckett did last year. But that is to be looked back on and labeled as part of the process. The expected and awaited Josh Beckett has arrived. Could this be the guy to pry the Cy Young award from Johan Santana's death grip? Don't doubt him.
The righthander has always had electric stuff, but like many young pitchers, struggled with consistency and command. Beckett would dominate one outing and then be very average the next. That is not the case this year as he is turning in quality start after quality start. Curt Schilling has been saying how great this kid will be for some time now. It is not as if he hasn't shown what's inside that right arm. His Game 7 masterpiece in the 2003 World Series as a 23-year old at Yankee Stadium pitching for the Florida Marlins is one of the best games I have ever seen someone pitch. The difference this year, according to many scouts, is that he is harnessing his stuff and learning what it means to pitch.
Beckett no longer reaches back for 98-mph every pitch. He is mixing in a good change and breaking ball, while varying the speeds on his fastball. His splitter is and will continue to be a great out pitch. Hitters shouldn't get too comfortable in the box though, as he will reach back and pound the inside part of the plate. The Texas native has always been known for his bulldog mentality. That hasn't been any more evident than this year as Beckett quietly emerges as the leader of what arguably could be considered the best rotation in baseball. Mental toughness doesn't mean too much when your ERA is above 5.00 and you give 30 plus homeruns, as Beckett did last year. But that is to be looked back on and labeled as part of the process. The expected and awaited Josh Beckett has arrived. Could this be the guy to pry the Cy Young award from Johan Santana's death grip? Don't doubt him.
Time To Let Wood Swing Away
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been searching for runs outside of Vlad Guerrero for some time now. Already considered a run-producing type of offense, the Halos aren't even managing that as of May 8, 2007. With Garret Anderson on the disabled list, there is virtually nobody to carry the load when Guerrero is pitched around. The Angels have plenty of role players who could fit in nicely if only they could stumble upon some continuity throughout their lineup.
Juan Rivera went down with a broken leg in winter ball, prompting Arte Moreno to break the piggy bank to bring in Shea Hillenbrand. That hasn't exactly panned out as Hillenbrand is struggling to find solid contact, let alone base hits. At a time when somebody needs to step up and be the big bopper behind Vlad, Hillenbrand is taking weak swings in hitters counts and looks awfully uncomfortable at the plate.
I am not burying Hillenbrand's bat, as we must be reminded that the season is long and therefore can endure slumps. Baseball is all about the struggle and each player experiences it more than once every year. We are only in the beginning of May, so there is time for him to find his stroke and prove this investment was worthwhile. But this brings up the exact problem the Angels are faced with. They need a power bat to complement Guerreo and they only have a couple of guys who can do it. A player must be capable of such performance first, and that boils it down to Hillenbrand and the injured Garret Anderson. It is unrealistic to expect Orlando Cabrera, Chone Figgins, Erick Aybar, Robb Quinlan, or any others to be that type of player. Howie Kendrick will provide a great boost when he comes back, but even he isn't a guy you wish to plug into the 4 or 5 hole.
So where do the Angels go now? It's as easy as this... their bench. They have their top prospect in Brandon Wood up on the big club but are not giving him many at bats. A player like that needs to play, so there is no use having him in the big leagues if he won't see the batter's box. The Angels need to realize that Wood is the best sollution to their problem. He could turn out to be a great fit. The kid has torn up minor league pitching and is heralded for his monster power. Isn't this what the Angels have been looking for each of the past few seasons?
Of course you don't expect him to tear it up right away, no rookie is expected to do that. But the scary thing is this guy has the potential to do that. Obviously management feels he is ready or else he wouldn't be up on the club. For a team who needs another run-producer, it doens't make sense to have a kid on the bench who is projected to be a 35-40 homer guy annualy. With Reggie Willits, Chone Figgins, and Orlando Cabrera toward the top of the lineup, there will be plenty of opportunities to score. These guys are great table-setters who fit Mike Scioscia's style of play perfectly. It is now time to welcome the new era of Angels baseball to Anaheim and see what Brandon Wood can do in the middle of the order. You just might be surprised.
Juan Rivera went down with a broken leg in winter ball, prompting Arte Moreno to break the piggy bank to bring in Shea Hillenbrand. That hasn't exactly panned out as Hillenbrand is struggling to find solid contact, let alone base hits. At a time when somebody needs to step up and be the big bopper behind Vlad, Hillenbrand is taking weak swings in hitters counts and looks awfully uncomfortable at the plate.
I am not burying Hillenbrand's bat, as we must be reminded that the season is long and therefore can endure slumps. Baseball is all about the struggle and each player experiences it more than once every year. We are only in the beginning of May, so there is time for him to find his stroke and prove this investment was worthwhile. But this brings up the exact problem the Angels are faced with. They need a power bat to complement Guerreo and they only have a couple of guys who can do it. A player must be capable of such performance first, and that boils it down to Hillenbrand and the injured Garret Anderson. It is unrealistic to expect Orlando Cabrera, Chone Figgins, Erick Aybar, Robb Quinlan, or any others to be that type of player. Howie Kendrick will provide a great boost when he comes back, but even he isn't a guy you wish to plug into the 4 or 5 hole.
So where do the Angels go now? It's as easy as this... their bench. They have their top prospect in Brandon Wood up on the big club but are not giving him many at bats. A player like that needs to play, so there is no use having him in the big leagues if he won't see the batter's box. The Angels need to realize that Wood is the best sollution to their problem. He could turn out to be a great fit. The kid has torn up minor league pitching and is heralded for his monster power. Isn't this what the Angels have been looking for each of the past few seasons?
Of course you don't expect him to tear it up right away, no rookie is expected to do that. But the scary thing is this guy has the potential to do that. Obviously management feels he is ready or else he wouldn't be up on the club. For a team who needs another run-producer, it doens't make sense to have a kid on the bench who is projected to be a 35-40 homer guy annualy. With Reggie Willits, Chone Figgins, and Orlando Cabrera toward the top of the lineup, there will be plenty of opportunities to score. These guys are great table-setters who fit Mike Scioscia's style of play perfectly. It is now time to welcome the new era of Angels baseball to Anaheim and see what Brandon Wood can do in the middle of the order. You just might be surprised.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
April Surprises And Disappointments
Surprises:
1) Left-hander Rich Hill has carried the Chicago Cubs for the first month of the 2007 season. Hill, expected to simply fill in the 5th rotation spot, has been arguably the most dominant starter in all of baseball. Carlos Zambrano will turn in his usual steady numbers, giving the Cubs two reliable horses. Ted Lilly has been great as well, leaving only the final two spots up in the air. So far though, the buzz in the Windy City has been all about Rich Hill.
2) Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is swinging the bat like the old second baseman that now plays center field for the Cubs. In only his second year, Kinsler was expected to be a solid player, but nobody expected this much punch this early. Kinsler is on his way to becomming a perennial all-star in Texas.
3*) There is an asterisk next to this selection because it goes to Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who tied the record for most homeruns in April with 14, has gotten off to the best start in his career. Outstanding? Yes. Amazing? Absolutely. But I would hesitate to qualify anything Alex Rodriguez does as a "surprise"(hence the asterisk). Will the Bronx have a World Champion and an MVP? The latter, yes, the former will need some work.
Disappointments:
1) The New York Yankee pitching staff is the biggest disappointment thus far. Looking to begin the season with a completely healthy rotation, those dreams were derailed even before the Yanks broke camp. The Yankees are on pace, due to recent injuries, to use 10 different starters in the first 30 games. No team has ever done that. Ouch.
2) With all of the hype surrounding the arrival of Daisuke Matsuzaka, I am going to venture to say he has been a bit of a disappointment for the first month. Not a big one, but a little one. There is no question the elecrtic stuff is there, but at this point, command is another issue. Yes he beat the Yankees twice, but both were below average performances that he was bailed out of thanks to the Red Sox offense. Matsuzaka will be great, and you can see glimpses right now. But for $103 million, it is fair to say that we expected a little more so far.
1) Left-hander Rich Hill has carried the Chicago Cubs for the first month of the 2007 season. Hill, expected to simply fill in the 5th rotation spot, has been arguably the most dominant starter in all of baseball. Carlos Zambrano will turn in his usual steady numbers, giving the Cubs two reliable horses. Ted Lilly has been great as well, leaving only the final two spots up in the air. So far though, the buzz in the Windy City has been all about Rich Hill.
2) Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is swinging the bat like the old second baseman that now plays center field for the Cubs. In only his second year, Kinsler was expected to be a solid player, but nobody expected this much punch this early. Kinsler is on his way to becomming a perennial all-star in Texas.
3*) There is an asterisk next to this selection because it goes to Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who tied the record for most homeruns in April with 14, has gotten off to the best start in his career. Outstanding? Yes. Amazing? Absolutely. But I would hesitate to qualify anything Alex Rodriguez does as a "surprise"(hence the asterisk). Will the Bronx have a World Champion and an MVP? The latter, yes, the former will need some work.
Disappointments:
1) The New York Yankee pitching staff is the biggest disappointment thus far. Looking to begin the season with a completely healthy rotation, those dreams were derailed even before the Yanks broke camp. The Yankees are on pace, due to recent injuries, to use 10 different starters in the first 30 games. No team has ever done that. Ouch.
2) With all of the hype surrounding the arrival of Daisuke Matsuzaka, I am going to venture to say he has been a bit of a disappointment for the first month. Not a big one, but a little one. There is no question the elecrtic stuff is there, but at this point, command is another issue. Yes he beat the Yankees twice, but both were below average performances that he was bailed out of thanks to the Red Sox offense. Matsuzaka will be great, and you can see glimpses right now. But for $103 million, it is fair to say that we expected a little more so far.
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