My Take: BJ Upton

I think he’s a very good player that’s just going through a rough stretch right now and he should bounce back fine.  Next year I can see him upping his steals and homer totals and his defense has always been there and always will be there.  Upton will get better but if he can’t start to get on more he won;t be more than a six hitter with power, who is still very productive.  I can still ee him developing into a good leadoff man and I think he WILL be a pretty good player.  Him and Jennings will be a great duo in the outfield.  Upton has had really good seasons in the past and I think he can at least do what he did in 07 and 08.  He may start to heat up for the month of September.  Also, he’s money in the playoffs and should be if he makes it again.  It would be a bad move for the Rays to trade him, I think and I don’t see him as falling off, he just had two bad years.  He won’t slump as much and maybe could be an all-star.  His WAR should also improve a lot.

Is Ivan Nova Lucky or Good?

I think his wins show he’s a little bit lucky but I know he’s also good.  He has good stuff and projects to be a pretty good pitcher and he will continue to help the Yankees and get his ERA around 3.00.  His BABIP isn’t terrible though and he looks like he’s ready to become a really good pitcher who could be even better than most thought.  He has good stuff and mixes it well and by no means will be an ace but right now I think he could do a real good job for a while and that right now he’s the Yankees second best starter.  In the p[layoffs he may not be unhittable but I could see him having success if the Yanks make it.  In New York he should thrive well.  Nova is going to be a good pitcher and he should do very well over the span of the rest of this year and into next year.  On a fantasy team he may worth a flyer.  Nova is more good than lucky and as a Yankee he may always be a little lucky, though every once in a while he may run into trouble at Yankee Stadium there is nothing to big to worry about and he’s will pitch real well.

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MLB Power Rankings- 8/29/11

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

Looking at The AL MVP Race

THE YANKEE: Curtis Granderson could end up hitting 45 homers this year and if he get his average up he should bea top three vote getter.  He’s the main reason the Yankees are still pacing the Red Sox.  He plays really good defense and is the Yankees best defensive player along with Teixeria and Cano.  He’s just been really good and I think he’s the best Yankee this season and behind Cano is their best hitter right now.  A-Rod and Jeter might be better but not so far this season
THE THREE SOX: Ellsbury is the most valuable and deserving, Gonzalez the best and without Pedroia the Sox would be in trouble.  Ellsbury would get my first vote out of the three and then A-Gone.  Gonzalez is the best first baseman at all this year and at a strong position which means he has a legit chance.  Ellsbury will keep up this performance if anybody doubted.  He has enough power to hit bombs at Fenway and speed to change a game.  I like him and think he’s going to get even better, he’s very special.  Pedroia is the best tablesetter in a awhile and will continue and if the Red Sox win the World Series he is the key. 
THE SLUGGER: Jose Bautista has slowed down but he has a better average than last season and will still hit around 50 homers.  He deserves the award because he’s carried the Blue Jays but him slowing a bit and the team not contending will hurt
THE PITCHER: Justin Verlander has been the most valuable no doubt but the reason he wouldn’t win is because he’s a pitcher.  The Tigers would be worse off without but it’s a myth hat the rest of the staff hasn’t picked up the slack.  It’s just the five starters that haven’t who are Coke, Below, etc.  Anyways Verlander deserves the award as much as anyone and his performance has been amazing

My Ballot (If I Had One)

1. SP Justin Verlander
2. OF Jacoby Ellsbury
3. OF Curtis Granderson
4. 1B Adrian Gonzalez
5. OF Jose Bautista
6. 2B Dustin Pedroia
7. 1B Miguel Cabrera
8. 3B Michael Young
9. 1B Mark Teixeria
10. C Alex Avila

Ranking Playoff Contenders Rotataions

1. Phillies- They have actually outperformed this year and Lee, Hamels, Oswlat, and Halladay will be tough in any series and don;t forget Worely who will figure in somewhere
2. Brewers- Grienke is finally stepping up and Gallardo is talented and won’t crumble in the playoffs add that to a consistent Marcum and you have a good rotation
3. Giants- Their rotation will win it for them.  Lincecum can come up and so can Cain.  Vogelsong could fade a bit but he will be good and so will Sanchez when he comes back. 
4. Braves- A nice mix and Hanson, Beachy, Lowe, Hudson or Jurrjens could pitch well and that’s why I think this team can go deep with no trouble.  Jurrjens will be the best though
5. Rangers- Not the prettiest but it will get the job done for them.  Ogando and Wilson doing the biggest part and Harrison right behind them and Lewis should do well under pressure though he can be hit off of
6. Diamondbacks- Kennedy is an ace, Hudson is a good co-ace/number two and Collmenter could stay a surprise breakout and add that with an average veteran like Joe Saunders and you will get a decent rotation that can hold up
7. Tigers- Verlander is money and he will start every possible game he can and can win most.  Scherzer is starting to heat up and Fister will do what he always does and Penny may take a spot though Porcello could heat up, Porcello couldn’t be in the playoff rotation right now, but that could easily change.
8. Red Sox- After Beckett and Lester they don’t strike any fear and Lester or Beckett may lose once in a while.  If anything brings them down the playoffs, it’s their rotation
9. Yankees- CC and maybe some good work from veterans but the only guy I can see doing well besides CC is Nova and that’s not even set in stone, if they don’t fix that fast they are in trouble

Blue Jays Acquire Kelly Johnson From D’Backs For Aaron Hill, John McDonald

The Diamondbacks traded Kelly Johnson and got Aaron Hill, I think Johnson is pretty much better at everything except power.  Johnson will be streakybut the Jays needed a leadoff guy who could hit .270-.280 in a good year and get on, his power is a bonus and I think the Jays not only got better but they won the deal.  Hill will return to 25-30 homer power but other than that he’s real good.  He’s an average to a little above average defender but in Arizona his average could take even more of a hit and you could see him hitting .250 and only getting up to .265-.270 in a good year.  The D’Backs also got McDonald who provides a good platoon, he won’t do bad nor that good in the eight hole but he will play great defense and get some hits.  He’s good for depth and is a real nice addition that will help the D’Backs a ton.  Hill in Arizona is a moderate fit and he will hit clean-up a lot and regain some power in Arizona and be good down the stretch and with Bloomquist and McDonald splitting time it make the D’Backs infield a little better.  Johnson in Toronto is a good fit and he could see some big things ahead and do well in Toronto.  Hill still has more upside though.  This deal helps both squads as it fattens the D’Backs middle of the order but Johnson will come out of his slump where as Hill may have a tougher time, so there is a chance this hurts the D’Backs.  Both Second Baseman will do well and get betetr in their new homes and stay close as far as overall rating though I think Johnson will remain a little better, almost always.

Blue Jays New Batting Order (Or How I’d Do It)

1. 2B Kelly Johnson
2. SS Yunel Escbar
3. RF Jose Bautista
4. 1B Adam Lind
5. CF Colby Rasmus
6. 3B Brett Lawrie
7. C JP Arenciba
8. LF Eric Thames
9. DH Edwin Encarnacion

Diamondbacks New Batting Order (Or How I’d Do It)

1. 3B Ryan Roberts
2. SS Willie Bloomquist
3. RF Justin Upton
4. 2B Aaron Hill
5. CF Chris Young
6. 1B Paul Goldschmit
7. C Miguel Montero
8. LF Gerardo Parra

Trade Deadline Winners and Loseres So Far

A look at who won and lost so far and if things can change

WINNER
TIGERS- Disregard Fister’s two middle starts for the Tigers and he’s been really good.  He will show up even more and be a reliable number three on the Tigers staff.  Pauley looks good and should do around as well as he did with the M’s and be one of the top relievers in the division.  Betemit fits right in with he team and will continue too, awesome at the bottom of the line-up, more average and RBIs with some homers sprinkled in.  Delmon Young was a waiver trade that should do some good too.
MARINERS- Casper Wells could very well reach 20-20 if he gets full playing time and is a good option to hit second in that line-up too and him and Carp might cool off a bit there but there both really good and Wells might even be a smidge better.  Carp wasn’t acquired at the deadline but him and Casper have both been awesome for the M’s.  Furbush could be a good option at the end of the rotation or a really good long reliever or middle reliever and should keep it up.  Ruffin and Martinez will show their talents soon, Ruffin sooner and could he could be a setup man real quick.  Robinson is the best player they got and Chiang shows up under any circumstance and could be very good for them soon too.
PHILLIES- Hunter Pence will do even better and thrive in Philly.  He and Victorino are young and explosive and think in 2012 with Brown being added.  He may have made the Phillies pull away from the pack and will continue to do great things and play great defense and great all-around and he could heat up even more
RANGERS- They got Mike Adams, who has had a few struggles since joining the AL but he will give up a few more runs out of San Diego and even with his struggles he’s still a top setup man and pair him with Uehara, who could do even better with his new and team and you have a team that I can’t see NOT making the ALCS at least along with their whole other team.
BRAVES- Bourn is a true leadoff man and that will help them a ton.  He will propel them a ton and this team was already good almost all-around too.  The best part is they didn’t give up anybody who will be more valuable, pretty much ever!  Bourn’s running game will add to the offense too and those stolen bases were needed.  This makes the Braves maybe the most well-rounded team in the MLB.  Aces- Jurrjens, Hudson, Hanson.  Speed: Heyward, Bourn  Defense: Heyward, Bourn, Gonzalez  Relievers: Kimbrel, Venters, O’Flaherty  Power: McCann, Uggla, Freeman  Hitting: Jones, McCann, Bourn.  Bourn adds a ton
INDIANS: The Fukudome deal was dumb because he won;t do anything for them and will stay around the Mendoza Line.  If Jimenez turns out it was worth it.  He can get beat up from time to time but now he’s in a better park and if he gets his delivery fixed up a bit they have a guy who will keep them going and they might not fall out
BLUE JAYS: Rasmus for what they got was a steal and they got some supporting cast members.  Now that the Jays have a five tool, middle of the order center fielder they might be able to sneak in the AL East race real soon.  Rasmus should do even better and continue to develop in Toronto and reach his prime real soon
METS: Beltran wasn’t coming back, so they got a future ace which is good for them because the only current members of the rotation (Or DL) I can see in a Mets uniform in a couple of years is Niese and Santana, so Wheeler could be the co-ace if he reaches his potential.
ATHLETICS: Ziegler may be good but Allen should be a starter who does well and Norberto could do almost as well as Ziegler down the road, possibly.
LOSERS
DODGERS: They gave up a good and explosive center fielder that could be a big player starting next year for two future relievers, one of which seems to be a hit or miss (Rodriguez and a platoon catcher.  The deal was dumb for the Dodgers and it could hurt them a little more than they think.  The Furcal deal was good for them though.
RED SOX: Aviles si a good utility man for them who can fill in for an injured guy and do well and could get even better with the Sox in Fenway but Bedard probably won’t do much and the rotation of their’s might get beat up in the playoffs.  Beckett and Lester are the only guys who could really do well and Bedard could do something but coming off an injury he may not do much.  In the future he could return to doing well, so maybe they can re-sign him.
CARDINALS: The bullpen hasn’t gotten much better because Dotel is nearing the end of his career and behind him their bullpen just isn’t strong enough.  Salas and Rzepcynski are good but now I think they are out of it and they gave up Rasmus and got back a bad return and though Jay won’t be bad he won’t be able to replace him.  Furcal is only a small upgrade over Schumaker/Theroit too.  Castellanos has potential too.
YANKEES: No moves, still problems.  Not enough pitching for them could mean a playoff exit before the ALCS.  The Rangers and Red Sox are better and the Tigers have a better ace at this point and Scherzer and Fister are starting to show up.  No deal could be a huge loss and even Wandy Rodriguez looks good for them now.
WHITE SOX: They got one good future arm who won;t be an ace but good and a veteran reliever and that’s not enough for them to compete I think.
ASTROS: The really didn’t get back a lot of really good prospects but they aren’t complete losers, they just could have gotten more.  Singleton and Zied look good along with Santana and Cossart.  Oberholtzer also a good pickup.
IN BETWEEN
ANGELS: They didn’t need to really make a move but they could have.  They probably won’t the division and some oft he other hitters will heat up down the strecth anyway, so they are fine.  Their biggest problem is figuring out how to get rid of Wells so next year Trout and play with Hunter and Bourjos in the outfield and Abreu will DH.  Something going to have to happen.
GIANTS: Beltran is hurt but he could give them major production is September and even more in the playoffs and Keppinger is a number two guy they needed but not sure why they got Orlando Cabrera, at this point Tejada is better.  So they are winners if Beltran shows up, which is more likely and losers if he doesn’t 
DIAMNDBACKS: Ziegler is another good arm who will have success ad Marquis was good but they may still have enough to beat the Giants anyway and the Goldschmit call-up, could be, well, gold.

What To Make of The Inge Return

Brandon Inge showed he can hit homers again last night and I think he can keep that up for a while.  I think Inge will go on a roll and probably hit a few more homers and get a couple RBIs but then he will probably fall cold, just as he did after the 2009 All-Star Game.  His defense is back and he will be an excellent defensive replacement after that but he won’t do much more than a couple hits here and there most likely but if he falls cold he probably won’t do as bad as he did in the first half.  If he makes the playoff roster he could provide some pop and a hit or two but at third they might need him in the playoffs to relive Betemit.  Betemit should be the starter still, the Tigers are now 13-4 when he starts and he finds a way to drive the runner in and in the nine-hole the Tigers need it.  Inge is okay to get a start once in a while after he is done doing good but that’s it.  His good start yesterday most likely isn’t anything more than a hot streak.  Andy Dirks was sent down to make room for Inge, which stinks because he’s a good bench guy who can leadoff, play decent defense, and pinch hit well.  He needs to make it up before September 1st to be eligible for a playoff roster spot and with Inge back there isn’t as much of a need for Kelly in the playoffs, and I think Dirks could do well if he makes the playoff roster.

MLB Power Rankings 8/19/11

1. Phillies- The best, no question
2. Red Sox- Really Good, easily better than the Yankees
3. Braves- I can’t find many negatives
4. Yankees- Starters and Injuries a concern but a good team
5. Brewers- Hottest in baseball and Weeks isn’t even back yet
6. Rangers- Ready for another deep postseason run
7. Diamondbacks- Look better than the Giants but not very established yet
8. Giants- Lincecum has been a n ace as has Cain and Vogelsong and Sanchez have been a great supporting cast.  No offense though
9. Tigers- If the starters can come around they are a pretty deep team
10. Rays- The wrong division, one of the most talented teams in the MLB, bright future
11. Cardinals- Berkman, Holliday and Pujols won’t make it easy on Brewers but Garcia struggles are big trouble
12. Indians- Ubaldo will help but just aren’t THAT good
13. Angels- Wells is killing them but Santana is hot and Trumbo is a very talented player
14. White Sox- If Dunn comes around, watch out, Humber being out hurts though
15. Blue Jays- Above average but this isn’t their year to shine
16. Pirates- A .500 team, finally.  If Alvarez comes around and they stay healthy could be much, much more
17. Reds- Could climb up the list and come back very strong
18. Rockies- Another team that had just one bad year and Tulo could light up September
19. Marlins- Should being doing a lot better but dumb moves like demoting Morrison hurt
20. Mets- Not a bad team but not a contender, yet
21. Nationals- Could be next year’s surprise team with Strasburg back, both Zimmerman(n)s and a good year from Werth, don’t forget Harper, at the end of the year, either
22. Twins- Need to come out the gate better but Nishioka is a bust and an easy out, the double play combo needs work
23. Athletics- They look very good and I can’t see them not improving a lot next season
24. Padres- Have some young and promising players but still a few years away
25. Dodgers- Kemp is an MVP candidate and Ethier should come back strong starting this year
26. Mariners- The starters look good and Wells and Carp look like future players but after that it’s hazy
27. Orioles- Not a really good team and still years away from contending
28. Cubs- With Hendry gone it could get better from here
29. Royals- Their outfielders all look good and prospects are bright a better record is ahead
30. Astros- Not much other than Altuve

Series Preview: Indians at Tigers

PREDICTION:
Friday: Indians 2 Tigers 7
Saturday: Indians 5 Tigers 8
Sunday: Indians 5 Tigers 4
PROBABLES
FRIDAY: Scherzer vs Tomlin: Scherzer should have a good start and may start a turn around for the Tigers right here.  He has to be good for the Tigers to go deep in the postseason and he should show up for most of his big starts.  Tomlin is easier to hit and completely done with his first half success, he could do okay but the Tigers should score.
SATURDAY: Doug Fister vs David Huff: Both could do good but I think this could be a higher scoring game.  Fister should start to settle down a bit but the Indians could get a piece of him but it should be a decent start and Huff should also do decent and fool some hitters but not others.
SUNDAY: Rick Porcello vs Ubaldo Jimenez- Jimenez got the Tigers last time and could start pitching like an ace but the Tigers offense should get something off of him.  Porcello is a toss-up but if he does good it might still be a little messy, so decent start at best ahead for him while Ubaldo may dominate.
ANALYSIS: I think the Tigers offense and bullpen will be at their best and Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez could seriously add to their totals.  With Choo back the Indians offense could do good but their pitching is hittable and the Tigers are better and should show it most of the series.
KEYS: The Tigers need to take advantage of every opportunity and their starters need a lower their ERA.  For the Indians, Choo has to show up and they can’t play bad at all in any game.
IMPACT: The Tigers are better and if the sweep they may only have to worry about the White Sox but the Indians shouldn’t be counted out even though they aren’t quite as good as the Tigers they are a good team.  The Tigers need to take two out of three or else they could find a little trouble too.