New Site

I’m going to start blogging again but I am starting a new site in the next few days.  Head on over to niksbaseballcorner.wordpress.com to check it out!

Big Series For Tigers-White Sox In Chicago

Tonight is the start of a 4 game series in Chicago with the White Sox leading the Tigers by two games.  Last time these two teams met was from August 31 to September 2nd at Comerica Park where the Tigers, who have dominated the Sox in 2012 swept them, but this series is in Chicago with the stakes high, so anything could happen at this point
WHITE SOX: The Sox have a good line-up, but their task is to be able to hit the Tigers studs, the Tigers are sending Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, and Justin Verlander to the mound in this series and the White Sox have to defend their home turf and score runs against these guys or they will be in for a long series again versus a Detroit team.
TIGERS: The Tigers just need to play the Sox the way they have all year, and like last time they played them, shut down the Sox middle of the order, it will all follow from there.  I think their hitting will get better at the Cell during the series and I believe in this team.  I have watched them all year and they can beat the White Sox out for the division, and as a fan of the Tigers they can beat these guys with their offense.
PITCHING:
MONDAY: Rick Porcello vs Jose Quintana-  Aside from his last start Porcello has done well lately and his ground ball pitching in the sox ballpark is huge for the Tigers tonight, I expect him to shut this offense down and set the tone for the series.  Quintana is good, but the Tigers can certainly hit him well and make him leave the game early.  LINE PROJECTION: Porcello- 7.1 IP 1 ER 5  2 BB 7 K  Quintana 5 IP 5 ER 7 H 3 BB 5 K
TUESDAY: Doug Fister vs Jake Peavy- I expect Fister to fully return to his second half greatness for this start and hold the White Sox to barely any offense.  HE could be dominant in this start too, he just needs to keep going strong even if he hits a bump at one point.  Peavy has faced the Tigers a lot in 2012, and they are starting to figure him out very well, so it may not be his best start of the year.  LINE PROJECTION Fister: 7 IP 2 ER 5 H 1 BB 8 K  Peavy: 5.2 IP 4 ER 7 H 2 BB 6 K
WEDNESDAY: Max Scherzer vs Francisco Liriano- Scherzer has been a force in the last month and he tamed the White Sox last start, I expect something similar.  On the note of Liriano, I think he was a bad pick-up for the SOx and the Tigers hit him well, so we will see.  LINE PROJECTION: Scherzer: 7 IP 1 ER 6 H 2 BB 12 K  Liriano 6 IP 4 ER 6 H 3 BB 2 K
THURSDAY: Justin Verlander vs Chris Sale- The Sunday Night Baseball match-up where Verlander outpitched Sale has a sequel and I don’t expect it to be any different, a pitcher’s duel where Verlander dominates and doesn’t give up much and Sale does great but the Tigers could use some power and rallies and clutch hitting to beat him again  LINE PROJECTIONS Verlander: 9 IP 1 ER 4 H 0 BB 9 K  Sale 7 IP 3 ER 6 H 2 BB 8 K

KEYS:
Tigers: They should win Monday and just keep hitting, a sweep may seem far-fetched but I think it’s actually a possibility and guys like Garcia, Cabrera and Fielder along witht he whole offense should come alive
White Sox: They have to hold the Tigers and score runs to win games in the series

PREDICTIONS
Monday: Tigers 7  White Sox 2
Tuesday: Tigers 6 White Sox 7
Wednesday: Tigers 7 White Sox 1
Thursday; Tigers 4 White Sox 1

Athletics Acquire Stephen Drew from D’Backs

The Athletics have solved their shortstop problem by trading Sean Jamieson in exchange for Stephen Drew.  Drew is an often-injured shortstop, but is a big upgrade for the A’s at short.  Drew could return to around to the level he was playing at before his injuries and he is in a contract year, which could create a huge stretch run for him.  I also like that he can bring a few tools to Oakland and hit high or low in the order.  He’s an above average shortstop that fits in with Oakland, and that’s all they needed.  The Diamondbacks can just play Willie Bloomquest at shortstop for right now and be fine, Drew was good but he wasn’t needed for the D’Backs right now.  The Diamondbacks got a minor leaguer, Sean Jamieson, who should e a powerful infielder one day, and was a good pick-up by the A’s.  I see this deal working out for the A’s similar to what the D’Backs got in Aaron Hill last season.  Drew should recover his hitting stroke and even if it isn’t to a full extent he will do better than what he has done with the D’Backs so far.  He can play an average defense at this point, and he is a risk worth taking for the A’s, and he’s better than Hicks and Rosales.  EDGE: Athletics

MLB Power Rankings: 7/29/12

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

Tigers Midseason Grades

Alex Avila: C-  (Still good for a catcher but not where we thought he would)
Gerald Laird: A (Has done his job well as a backup catcher, but obviously not a star)
Prince Fielder: B+ (Still good offense but power has been down just a bit, getting used to AL)
Ryan Raburn: D- (Bad first half, heating up like usual for second half)
Ramon Santiago: C- (Has done his job a little below average)
Jhonny Peralta: D+ ( Average has been there sometimes, power is way down)
Miguel Cabrera: A+ ( Has had a typical Miggy season)
Delmon Young: C+ (Power surge has helped his average and grade)
Austin Jackson A+ ( Living up t potential, complete breakout)
Don Kelly: D (Has done a poor job of backing up for the most part)
Quintin Berry: A (Surprise breakout with speed, just been great)
Brennan Boesch: D+ (Hasn’t been same Boesch as last season but still has time)

Justin Verlander: A (Not as good as last year but still the best starter in the AL)
Max Scherzer: C (Up and down but I still believe in him and his season)
Rick Porcello: C- (been okay for a four starter but needs to improve)
Doug Fister: C- (Might give an incomplete but has been poor most of the time he hasn’t been hurt, can get a lot better)
Drew Smyly: B ( Has been a nice five starter with room to grow)
Jose Valverde: C- (Had poor start to season but is improving)
Joaquin Benoit: A+ (One word to use is dominating)
Phil Coke: C (Average Season so far)
Brayan Villarreal: A+ (turning into late inning shutdown reliever)
Octavio Dotel A- (Has been everything the Tigers want him to be)
Duane Below: A ( Been one of the better long relievers in the MLB)
Team will get better and have better grades in the second half

Giancarlo Stanton: MVP?

You readers may think it’s a bit early for MVP talk, but we’re close to being a third of the way through the season and that’s when MVP talk heats up as far as who’s going to be in the race, and I say why not Giancarlo Stanton?  Many young players have won the award lately, guys like Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, and Ryan Braun.  Stanton had a bad April but since May he’s carried the Marlins offense for the most part, and he’s an iting player to watch, especially his homers.  He will be great all year and he will be very valuable and his defense won’t hurt them either.  Stanton is going to be a Hall of Fame caliber player one day, as long as nothing happens to him, and he will win MVPs and it will start right now.  He should have huge months like this one a few times this year and he should continue to be a front runner for this award all year and he will improve a ton on his numbers last year and his average and on base will rise a bit too and he could reach the range of a .300 average. Stanton is just so good, he is one if the best players in the NL right now and the main reason the Marlins are winning aside form their good pitching.

Boston Red Sox All-Time Team

C: Carlton Fisk
1B: Jimmie Foxx
2B: Bobby Doerr
SS: Nomar Garciapara
3B: Wade Boggs
LF: Ted Williams
CF: Tris Speaker
RF: Dwight Evans
DH: David Ortiz

C Jason Varitek
LF Carl Yaztremski
OF Jime RIce
LF Manny Ramirez

SP: Pedro Martinez
SP: Joe Wood
SP: Cy Young
SP: Roger Clemens
SP: Luis Tiant

CL: Jon Paplebon
RP: Babe Ruth
RP: Mel Parnell
RP: Lefty Grove
RP: Dick Radatz
RP: Bob Stanley
RP:Derek Lowe

1. CF Tris Speaker
2. RP Dwight Evans
3. LF Ted Williams
4. 1B Jimmie Foxx
5. DH David Ortiz
6. 3B Wade Boggs
7. C Carlton Fisk
8. 2B Bobby Doerr
9. SS Nomar Garciapara

iOOTP12 Review

This is another review about a product from the same company, in fact it’s the same game, but it’s for the iPhone. It’s the most in depth baseball sim you can get for the iPhone and it’s like a dream to be able to play this in depth of a game on your phone. It only costs $4.99 and you are able to play 2012 with any team or three other past MLB seasons as a historical replay and all other seasons are available at a low cost or can be bought in bundles. You can also just make up your own league and play. All of this on your phone! It’s a must for a baseball fan with an iPhone or iPad I absolutely live this game This is not a sponsored post, this is review.

Top 10 Red Sox Right Now

1 CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2 1B Adrain Gonzalez
3 2B Dustin Pedroia
4 SP Jon Lester
5 LF Carl Crawford
6 DH David Ortiz
7 3B Kevin Youkilis
8 SP Josh Beckett
9 RP Andrew Bailey
10 SP Clay Buchholz
HM: Sweeney, Ross, Melancon, Schoppach, Saltalamachhia, Aceves

Better, Worse. Or Same 2011- Rays

Here we go witht he Rays version… (Just because a superstar is worse doesn’t mean he will be bad it just means he will have a worse performance than in 2011 and vise versa with a below average player)

Jose Molina: Same
Robinson Chirnos: Better
Jose Lobaton: Better
Carlos Pena: Same
Sean Rodriguez: Better
Jeff Keppinger: Better
Ben Zobrist: Better
Evan Longoria: Better
Reid Brignac: Better
Desmond Jennings: Better
Matt Joyce: Worse, just a litte
Sam Fuld: Same
Luke Scott: Better
BJ Upton: Better
Brandon Guyer: Better

James Shields: Same
David Price: Better
Matt Moore: Better
Jeremy Hellickson: Same
Wade Davis: Same but maybe Better
Jeff Niemann: Worse
Burke Badenhop: Same
JP Howell: Same
Fernando Rodney: Worse
Joel Perlata: Same
Jake McGee: Better
Cesar Ramos: Better
Josh Lueke: Same
Kyle Farnsworth: Same
Brandon Gomes: Better

This team is great all-around, look for an increase in wins