The Top Fielding Second Baseman for 2011

1. Brandon Phillips
2. Orlando Hudson
3. Chase Utley
4. Mark Ellis
5. Dustin Pedroia
6. Robinson Cano
7. Aaron Hill
8. Ian Kinsler
9. Brian Roberts
10. Jack Wilson
11. Will Rhymes
12. Kelly Johnson
13. Gordon Beckham
14. Freddy Sanchez
15. Niel Walker
16. Omar Infante
17. Howie Kendrick
18. Danny Espinosa
19. Bill Hall
20. Rickie Weeks
21. Eric Young Jr
22. Orlando Cabrer
23. Alexei Casilla
24. Sean Rodriguez
25. Bale DeWitt
26. Chris Getz
27. Daniel Murphy
28. Skip Schumaker
29. Juan Uribe
30. Dan Uggla

Top Defensive Catchers and First Baseman for 2011

Catchers
1. Yadier Molina
2. Ivan Rodrihuez
3. Jose Molina
4. Joe Mauer
5. Yorvit Torrelba
6. Buster Posey
7. Gerald Laird
8. Jeff Mathis
9. Kurt Suzuki
10. Alex Avila
First Baseman
1. Albert Pujols
2. Mark Teixeria
3. Adrain Gonzalez
4. Carlos Pena
5. James Loney
6. Derrek Lee
7. Todd Helton
8. Daric Barton
9. Miguel Cabrera
10. Lyle Overbay

What Went Wrong For Tigers Against Mainers?

I think it was disappointing but it’s not as bad as it seems.  Michael Pineda is going to be an absolute stud and Felix is Felix so those games are understandable but they should have at least won one game.  They needed some more offense which wasn’t there, but it will come and with V-Mart coming back there is no worries.  The bullpen will improve but they need Penny and Coke or at least one of them.  They can both be good but they need to be now and I’m not sure they can within the next few weeks at least and the Tigers will struggle because of that.  The offense should come storming back and I see them taking at least two in Cleveland, starting the Indians downfall.  It won’t affect anything it was just a bad series, they will eventually sweep in a series they shouldn’t win and they have a great chance to surprise the Yankees this next week, watch Boesch, Avila and Raburn continue to be solid until them but some of the struggles will hurt a little.
Off-Topic: David Price is going to dominate for a while starting tomorrow

Jose Bautista a Good Hitter, No Fluke

Jose Bautista is a decent hitter and is defiantly not a fluke.  He will hit 40 to 45 homers and has a great shot to easily win back to back home run crowns, though he will have a few less homers and more competition.  The big thing is his leg kick.  It will lead him to success for the rest of his career and I think it may get him a higher batting average, more extra base hits and be a pretty good hitter.  Ever since he made that change to his swing he has done very good and there is no reason to believe anything different.  I think a little bit of power for average is very likely though.  Bautista won’t be the best hitter in the AL because that will stick with Miguel Cabrera, but he will be up there and he will be doing very good a big chunk of the time.  He will have tons of success in the Rogers Centre and will be a tough hitter always and he will be a legit superstar.  Bautista has a few good years ahead but this may be the best of all.

A Look at The Dodgers

HOW GOOD ARE THEY?: I know, they aren’t playing like World Champions but they have been very impressive and clutch and that could stick.  They have the right tools but I think even if they can stick in it, which I won’t guarantee but they have a good shot to win 85 games, I don’t think they can be as good as their potential with teams like the Rockies and Marlins and Brewers.  Their talent could take them far and they have a shot though.  They need a good middle of the order and all the pitching to hold and even improve a little bit.  CHANCE TO MAKE PLAYOFFS: 15%
CAN THEY BEAT THE GIANTS AND ROCKIES?: For now I will still say no.  The Giants pitching is a little bit better and offense and depth are better and the Rockies pitching might not be quite as good but their offense and second half ability will really help them.  The Ddodgers will challenge each team but don’t have a really good chance to beat them in tough times and they just lack a little.
KEMP AND ETHIER: Andre Ethier started off great last year but them fizzled, but that shouldn’t happen this year.  It shouldn’t happen because that is what he’s capable of, he’s got quite a bit of pop and is and RBI guy.  He just has too much talent to do that again and will easily be an all-star like player.  Kemp’s defense has been great and it will continue to be that way.  He’s got a shot at a Gold Glove this season.  Kemp is doing great with a ton of power and is hitting and he should do that all this year and sometimes do it even better than he is right now.  He will be very clutch, not as much as Ethier though, and do everything he can.  He just needs to cut back on bad swings and strikeouts and he has a good chance to do that.  Both together can do huge damage.
LONEY: He’s struggling and he needs to breakout this season if he’s going to be something huge.  He might not but I can see him heating up with the weather and hitting for an okay average and maybe hitting 20 bombs this year, just don’t expect too much
STARTERS: Kershaw has been good and could be even better, Billingsley is improving and it will continue and the veterans like Garland and Kurdoa are going to do their all season long.  Lilly will rebound sometime soon and be a good number three.  A lot will come from these guys.
RELIEVERS: Broxton is an elite closer and he proved it so far and the rest of the guys are doing fine and that’s exactly what they will do, just don’t expect the world from Kuo.  Jansen is still a big breakout candidate
WHAT MIGHT BRING THEM DOWN: Their division.  It should be a good summer and they should win and win close games, just don’t think they will make the playoffs, their team quality isn’t as good as about seven other teams in the NL, but they are still pretty good.

Are they Overachieving?

Jhoulys Chacin-Will Stay This Way- Sure, he pitches in Colorado but I think he’s a talented pitcher and that he will get past that
Lance Berkman- Overachieving- He’s going to do really good and hit for power but he will level back out.
Asdrubal Cabrera- Will Stay This Way- His power will defiantly back off but he’s a quality leadoff hitter that will do great and will be one of the Indians better players
Bruce Chen- Way Overachieving- He’s just not that good and easy to score off of.  He will break down soon
Aaron Harang- Will Stay This Way- He’s a good veteran pitching in PETCO that can have success he may take a small regression but he won’t have a 4.00 ERA or anything
Jed Lowrie- Will Stay This Way- He may not quite be ready to swap with Scutaro but he will be a big bat off the bench and could do really good and start to start in the summer
Willie Bloomquest- Overachieving- He a good utility bench player who does okay with a 100 starts, he just hot right now
Jose Contreras- Will Stay The Same- He’s hurt but when he comes back he will be a good setup man who does his job and more
Alex Gordon-Will Stay This Way- He’s becoming what he was going to be only a little bit worse
Sam Fuld-Will Stay This Way- He’s the perfect breakout player for this season.  Big speed, some pop, great hitter and defender.  Big Win for the Rays

Game Notes CHW at DET 4/23/11

These are notes on the team and players from this game, they have to do with scouting and how they might fair in the future
TEAM
TIGERS- Everything is up and running and they are dangerous, offense is great and will catch fire
WHITE SOX- Will start off slower and rebound like last season, but not as good
PLAYERS
Rhymes- Great defense, good getting to pop-ups
Inge & Ordonez- Will heat up in their own ways
A. Jackson- Slowly getting back to normal, Will get tons of IF hits and a great bunter, best on the Tigers at bunting
Avila- Will stay on fire for a while, power and XBH are big and could improve a ton on 2011, Nice, fluid swing that will lead to success
Pierre- Will never be a good defender
Morel- Looks like he will be okay
Quentin- Looks like another okay season with a lower average though
A. Ramirez- He looks like he will quickly get back on track
M. Cabrera- Better than 2010, in my opinion
Boesch- Power will come but he will stay hot and do very well all season.  Will make up for no V-Mart for now
A. Alberqurque- He just needs to tone it down at times but has the makings of a great, strikeout reliever, could be big for the Tigers this season
Ohman- Will have his typical season
Raburn- He can do a lot this year and he will
STARTERS
PENNY
-I like him, he will get outs and do his job and have some real good games
-Will pitch to contact
-Will catch fire again this season
-Looks promising for this season
JACKSON
-Good, but very streaky, he’s almost there
-He will still have a lot of struggles, for now
-Best stuff currently in the Sox rotation
-Could put it all together at any time
My Take on the Tigers chaces so far: I like the Tigers in this division. White Sox are just not good enough and the Tigs can beat them. The Twins pitching and injuries will slow them and I can’t see them catching back up.

Power Rankings- 4/22

Based on talent, current play and future play…

1. Rockies(13-6)
2. Rangers(12-7)
3. Phillies(12-6)
4. Yankees(10-6)
5. Giants(10-8)
6. Marlins(12-6)
7. Reds(10-9)
8. Indians(13-6)
9. Angels(12-7)
10. Brewers(9-9)
11. Royals(12-8)
12. Tigers(10-10)
13. Cardinals(10-9)
14. Red Sox(7-11)
15. Dodgers(11-10)
16. Rays(9-11)
17. Braves(8-12)
18. Blue Jays(9-10)
19. White Sox(8-12)
20. Athletcis(9-10)
21. Padres(8-11)
22. Twins(7-12)
23. Diamondbacks(8-10)
24. Cubs(9-10)
25. Orioles(8-10)
26. Nationals(9-9)
27. Pirates(8-11)
28. Mets(7-13)
29. Astros(7-13)
30. Mariners(7-13)

Start or Dart: Weekend Edtion

BOLD=Don’t Start      Normal=Start
FRIDAY
Buehrle vs. Verlander
Sabathia vs. Bergeson
Hellickosn vs. Reyes
Francis vs. Holland
Carmona vs. Duensing
Lester vs. Haren
Ross vs. Pineda
Billinglsey vs. Coleman
Hernandez vs. Karstens
Chacin vs. Sanchez
Hamels vs. Richard
Saunders vs. Pelfrey
Figeroua vs. Gallardo
McClellan vs. Volquez
Hanson vs. Bumgarner
Saturday
Lilly vs. Dempster
Price vs Morrow
Enright vs. Gee
Carrasco vs. Liraino
Jackson vs. Penny
Hudson vs. Lincecum
Wood vs. Carpenter
Garcia vs. Tillman
Marquis vs. Correia
Rogers vs. Vazquez
Myers vs. Marcum
Davies vs. Ogando
Blanton vs. Stauffer
Matsuzaka vs. Santana
Cahill vs. Vargas
Sunday
Danks vs. Scherzer
Shields vs Romero
Galarraga vs. Niese
Jimenez vs. Johnson
Nova vs. Arrieta
TBD(WSH) vs. Maholm
Rodriguez vs. Wolf
Kuroda vs. Zambrano
Chen vs. Wilson
Gomez vs. Pavano
TBD(SD) vs. Halladay
Beachy vs. Sanchez
LeCure vs. Westbrook
Fister vs. Anderson
Lackey vs. Plamer

Fake or Real: Players- The Good

SAM FULD: Mostly Real
MATT HARRISON: Fake
LANCE BERKAMAN: Real
DAN HAREN: Real
JHOULYS CHACIN: Real
MATT KEMP: Real
LOGAN MORRISON: Real
JP ARENCIBA: Real
ZACH BRITTON: Real
KYLE DRABEK: Real
MICHAEL PINEDA: Real
KEVIN CORREIA: Real
JEFF RANCIS: Fake
BRANDON MCCARTHY: Fake
CHARLIE MORTON: Fake
JUSTIN MASTERSON: Real
JORGE POSADA: Fake
HOWIE KENDRICK: Real
STARLIN CASTRO: Real
MACIER IZTRURIS: Fake
ALEX GORDON: Real