September 16, 2009

Baseball Update: A Boring Finish

Sorry for not posting about baseball in a while. With the NFL and college football both starting, baseball took a backseat for a while. Baseball took a backseat because this may be one of the lamest finishes to a baseball season in a while.

Every division is basically rapped up. The Yankees, Tigers, and Angels have basically won their AL divisions. The Red Sox has pretty much won the AL Wild Card since the Rangers have given up. The NL isn't much better. The Phillies, Cardinals, and Dodgers have basically won their divisions. The only race right now worth watching is for the NL Wild Card between the Rockies and Giants. But they play on the West Coast and no one cares about the West Coast. Hell ESPN has talked about Dice-K's return more than an actual pennant race. I'm here though to tell you why the NL and the AL for that matter should be worried if either the Rockies or Giants make the playoffs.

Rockies:
- The Rockies have proven before if they can make the playoffs they can be a dangerous team. And this year's team is no different. Their lineup from top to bottom is one of the best in baseball. Troy Tulowitzki is quietly having an MVP type season. Todd Helton is still one of the best first baseman in the league. Brad Hawpe has had an All-Star type season. They even get contributions from Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmas, and Ian Stewart. They have speed in the base paths with Dexter Fowler and Eric Young Jr. They have great fielders. They are just a great all around team.

- The Rockies pitching staff has also quietly turned into one of the best in baseball. And this is without ace Jeff Francis who has missed the entire year. Ubaldo Jimenez has turned into the staff ace. Aaron Cook has never played played in a season without making the playoffs. Jorge De La Rosa and Jason Hammel are both solid.

- Their bullpen is also solid. Houston Street will be coming off of the DL soon. Street has had a resurgence this year in Colorado. Josh Fogg and Matt Herges are nice set up men. Their bullpen has been one of the best in baseball.

Giants:
- What can I say about the Giants pitching staff that hasn't already been said? Anytime you can have Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, and Matt Cain pitch the first three games of a series, then your chances will be greatly enhanced. But think about this for a second. Randy Johnson, Brad Penny, and Jonathon Sanchez can round up the bullpen to go along with Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt, and closer Brian Wilson. And what's the old saying in baseball? Pitching wins Championships.

- Now the lineup is a different story. In the Giants last three games the Giants offense has exploded. Juan Uribe has been a huge contributor for the Giants the last month. The Buster Posey callup has lit a fire under Bengie Molina's big ass. Even Gumby Randy Winn has been getting on base more and more. The Giants lineup has finally started producing at the right time.

Both schedules aren't lining up for both the Giants and Padres. After today's game the Giants play in Los Angeles, Arizona, and San Diego. Plus home games against Arizona and Chicago. San Francisco has struggled all year on the road. Specifically in San Diego were the Giants play their last series of the year.

The Rockies schedule isn't exactly easy either. After today's game with the Giants, the Rockies play road games in Arizona and their last series is a road trip to Los Angeles. Plus the Rockies have to play the red hot Padres at home, the Cardinals, and the Brewers.

The NL Wild Card is shaping up to go down to the wire. It will be up to how well the Giants play on the road and how well the Rockies play against the Dodgers and Cardinals. It should be a fun way to end the season.

Again though, does anyone care? After all this Wild Card race is on the West Coast.

Update: RJBO needs to get something off his chest. Apperantly the AL Central is not totally wrapped up. Let RJBO explain:

Not that anyone cares about the tallest midget contest that is the AL Central race, but the Tigers are making the New York Mets look like Mariano in the closing out divisions department. 11-1 loss to the FREAKING ROYALS?!?!? With 7 games with the Morneau-less Twins & 6 with the Good Guys, the Tigers aren't a lock. Their offense is terrible, the bullpen has failed them and Jarrod Washburn hasn't been inthis much trouble since (okay, that's a low blow), but dude is struggling. It may not be exciting, but the race to see who'll be swept by the Yankees in the ALDS is still up for grabs.
With that being said, I still thing the Tigers still win that division.

5 comments:

  1. I care about West Coast baseball ;-)

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  2. Every division is basically rapped up.

    /begins rant

    Not that anyone cares about the tallest midget contest that is the AL Central race, but the Tigers are making the New York Mets look like Mariano in the closing out divisions department. 11-1 loss to the FREAKING ROYALS?!?!? With 7 games with the Morneau-less Twins & 6 with the Good Guys, the Tigers aren't a lock. Their offense is terrible, the bullpen has failed them and Jarrod Washburn hasn't been in this much trouble since (okay, that's a low blow), but dude is struggling. It may not be exciting, but the race to see who'll be swept by the Yankees in the ALDS is still up for grabs.

    /end rant

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  3. Sheer numbers back up your confidence, Keith. It's just hard to get past the Tigers losing 5 straight to the FREAKING ROYALS!!!

    how's the Manhorse?

    He said he's never been in a pennant race before getting traded to the Tigers. His first game must've been Monday night, because I don't remember him doing anything before then.

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  4. Yeah I understand RJBO. The AL Central by default goes to the Tigers, but since they have struggled down the stretch it's hard to like their chances in the playoffs.

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