Angels Sign Ryan Madson

The Angels have signed closer Ryan Madson to a one year deal for an undisclosed amount of money probably in the $4-7 million range that he got last year, I would guess.  This creates a bit of competition in Angels camp now since Ernesto Frieri has closing experience and did a good job last year and Madson was a great closer before getting hurt last yea.  It only takes one bad year for a closer to become a permanent middle reliever but Madson is probably the better fit for the closing job to start the year off and Frieri to be a setup man along with Scott Downs.  This makes the Angels better as a whole and this move is adding just another quality player to the Angels for the year.  The Angels bullpen will benefit from this move a lot as Madson should lower their numbers and as a full time closer, I could see 35-40 saves in Madson future very easily.  Madson should have a year like some of the ones he had in Philly.  He’s not out of his prime yet and more teams should have went for him and should go fro players like him even with the risk after surgery.  Teams like the Tigers could’ve also gotten him and had a great closer, but this should just work out for all and be a great signing.

Trade Deadline Trades: Victorino to Dodgers

This year, I decided to do something different, I wanted to wait a week and a half to see some early results on trades to help my analysis, so here we go.  The Dodgers acquired outfielder Shane Victorino from the Phillies in exchange for pitchers Ethan Martin and Josh Lindblom on July 31.  Victorino hasn’t been having the best year of his career and is getting older so the Dodgers might want to lay off an extension as they have.  This was a slight risk but one the Dodgers had to make.  Dee Gordon is out and even before his average wasn’t really good, sophomore slump? Probably.  This is why is Dodgers needed Victorino though, a good outfielder who can hit leadoff and has as much experience you need for being 31.  He has hit .257 for the Dodgers but it’s only been 8 games so I’d give him a little time to adjust and I think he can get better in LA and help the team out a lot in 2012.  The Dodgers outfield is now Ethier-Kemp-Victorino which is a great outfield that any team would want, so I like how Colletti made his outfield one that could be one that makes postseason history.  I like the move for the Dodgers and Victorino and moving parks shouldn’t affect him much the rest of the season and he should be the player he has always been, which is exactly what the Dodgers need.  The Dodgers did pay a price though.  Josh Lindblom has worked his way up the Dodgers system and is MLB ready, which is a great for trades in the MLB (ex. Austin Jackson).  Lindblom could be a late innings guy or just a good arm that comes in and in 2012 and beyond he should help the Phillies out a lot and he is the best piece acquired in the trade, but the Phillis also got another great arm in former first round pick Ethan Martin.  He hasn’t quite lived up to all expectation but he still has time to develop and he could be a great arm in the rotation behind the Big 3 in the future.

Rangers Sign Roy Oswalt

The best team in the AL, just got a little better by signing Roy Oswalt to a one year deal, worth 5 to 6 million dollars.  Oswalt last pitched last year with the Phillies and was able to sign with Texas mostly because Neftali Feliz’s injury.  Oswalt should help the Rangers and be a good veteran presence in the rotation for the rest of the season for Texas.  I think he may reach a 4.00 ERA and stay there for a while and he might have a few bad starts getting into the swing of things and adjusting to the AL, but he should be a great number five guy and will be good for the postseason.  This is a big pitching addition for the Rangers midseason too.  Oswalt had a 3.69 ERA last season and he should be around that in the end.  Feliz may be moved back to the bullpen too and could be another great setup guy or even closer again.  Oswalt should continue to solidify his great career so far and he will bring a lot to the Rangers, this is a very good signing for the Rangers.  He won;t overpower you as much as he used to but he can still be very effective and get outs and he will just be a very good pitcher for the most part in Texas.

Weekly MLB Power Rankings: 5/12

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

What Teams Are Better In May?

It’s early but still winning now can mean a lot, teams with as of now labeled means it could change very quickly.

Yankees or Rays?: Rays

Red Sox or Blue Jays?: Blue Jays, as of now

Indians or White Sox?: Indians, Tigers are still the best
Nationals or Dodgers?: Dodgers
Giants or Diamondbacks?:  Giants

Braves or Phillies?: Braves, as of now

Reds or Brewers?: Reds
Tigers or Yankees?: Tigers
Marlins or Angels?: Marlins
Royals or Twins?: Royals
Orioles or Jays?: Jays
Rangers or Cardinals?: Rangers
Mets or Rockies?: Rockies

Best Hitter-Pitcher Combos in the MLB Going Into 2012

1. DET: Cabrera and Verlander
2. LAD: Kemp and Kershaw
3. NYY: Cano and Sabathia
4. LAA: Pujols and Weaver
5. MIL: Braun and Grienke
6. TB: Longoria and Price
7. PHI: Pence and Halladay
8. BOS; Gonzalez and Lester
9. ARZ: Upton and Kennedy
10. TOR: Bautista and Romero
11. SF: Posey and Lincecum
12. TEX: Hamilton and Darvish
13. WSH: Zimmerman and Strasburg
14. STL: Berkman and Wainwright
15. CIN: Votto and Latos
16. MIA: Ramirez and Johnson
17. ATL; McCann and Hanson
18. SEA: Suzuki and Hernandez
19. COL: Tulowitzki and Guthrie
20. CHC: Castro and Garza
21. MIN: Mauer and Baker
22. KC: Hosmer and Sanchez
23. CLE: Snatna and Jemenez
24. CHW: Konerko and Danks
25. NYM: Wright and Santana
26. SD: Maybin and Stauffer
27. BAL: Jones and Britton
28. PIT: McCutchen and Bedard
29. OAK: Weeks and McCarthy
30. HOU: Lee and Rodriguez

Bold Predictions for 2012

RED SOX: They will win over 90 games but miss the playoffs
YANKEES: Robinson Cano will hit 40 HR
RAYS: Will win the Wild Card with Longoria returning to hitting over .300
ORIOLES: Matt Wieters lives up to the potential
BLUE JAYS: Brett Lawrie leads the Blue Jays in Batting Average

TIGERS: Miguel Cabrera hits 40 HR and best his 2011 Average while taking the MVP, Verlander repeats his performance
ROYALS: They finish in second place behind Eric Hosmer becoming an elite 1B
INDIANS: Ubaldo Jimenez fails to win 12 games and is a flop
TWINS: Joe Mauer fails to hit .300 playing a full season
WHITE SOX: They finsih in last and Gordon Beckham breaks out

ANGELS: They fail to win the division and struggle against the Rangers 
ATHLETICS: Jarrod Parker wins or comes very close to the AL ROY
RANGERS: Neftali Feliz wins 19 games and has a sub-3 ERA
MARINERS: Dustin Ackley has a sophomore slump

PHILLIES: Jon Paplebon has blows over 7 saves
MARLINS: They win 90 games and the teams best player is Mike Stanton
METS: David Wright hits 30 HR
NATIONALS: Bryce Harper makes a June debut and he has more success than Strasburg
BRAVES: Freddie Freeman is the team MVP

CARDINALS: They Cardinals still win 88 games, but miss the playoffs
BREWERS: They still find a way to win the division
REDS: Come back strong and challenge for the division
CUBS: Starlin Castro get 200 hits again and Ian Stewart hits 27 HR
PIRATES: They finish at .500 or better
ASTROS: Jose Altuve finishes in the top 10 in average and challenges 200 hits

PADRES:Cameron Maybin goes 20-20
DODGERS: Matt Kemp wins the Triple Crown
GIANTS: Tim Lincecum wins 23 games the pitching triple crown
ROCKIES: They get back in the playoff hunt behind Tulowitzki’s 40 HR
DIAMONDBACKS: Justin Upton is second in the NL MVP behind Matt Kemp

Tigers Rumors: Strieby, Murphy, Polanco, FAs

• Ryan Strieby was outrighted to Triple A and he could till be a low average, power bat with enough pop to stick in the majors at best or Mike Hessman at worst but if he isn’t picked up big another team he could still make it and be good.  he needs to work on a few things though before he can be good and with his age he was the right guy to outright.
• The Tigers and Mets are discussing a deal that would send Andy Dirks and maybe a prospect to the Mets for Daniel Murphy and though I like dirks a lot, Murphy is better and should have a better career plus I think he’d be a great fit and acquisition nd the Tigers would have the deg in this deal.  If it’s not completed I’ll be very happy with Andy Dirks.  The Mets see Dirks as a potential Angel Pagan replacement and I say that Dirks may be better in New York and might be a great Met.  Murphy would have some great seasons with the Tigers 
• The Phillies are shopping Placido Polanco and the Tigers should go after him, he’s just what they need and he could be a great second or third baseman for the Tigers and he has one more productive season and probably another with the Tigers.  He will do what he did for them before and he does the small stuff the Tigers need.  Is ay go get him to Detroit.
• The Tigers aren’t sure about Mark Buehrle or coco Crisp.  Crisp had a low OBP last season and that does have a chance at continuing and even though I like Crisp and he’s probably a good fit, the Tigers should pass.  They should go get Buehrle if they can though but if they miss out it’s no big deal

Free Agent Profile: Magglio Ordonez

OVERVIEW: An aging outfielder coming off a disappointing season, I believe he still has a lot left in his tank and something to offer with his bat and he could be a bargain and have a real good 2012 and maybe 2013 to close out his career, but his defense won’t be there, not that he couldn’t play right field but he won’t do that well out there.  He will do better than he did last year and could be the hitter he was but he may also disappoint.
STATS: He could be up to a .300 hitter maybe a little better but .280 or .290 sounds way more realistic at this point.  He could belt a few homers and when given the chance to get an RBI, he will get it a lot of times.  I really like him and what he does and his stats will show it.  His defensive stats won;t be there of course and he should be a little above average sabermetricly.
FITS:
Tigers- He fits best as a Tiger and I’d really like them to re-sign him but I doubt they will re-sign him, which is to bad for both sides
Rangers- He could play left and put Hamilton in center and Cruz in right and give Gentry playing time once in a while, he could revive his career here
Red Sox- They had interest last year and he could serve as a third or fourth outfielder here and do okay
Phillies- He could give Brown so more time and give some nice production without a long time commitment
Athletics- Could fill in a roster spot and play his game minus some pop
BEST FIT: Tigers, but most realistic is the Rangers

IS HE DONE?: I say no but there is a possibility.  If he isn’t going to drop in his production the will do a fine and be just a little bit under his usual production in 2012 and he may drop some in 2013 again or he could drop a lot in production this year, which is possible but not as much.  I say there is only a 30% he’s done and he will do okay this year.

BOTTOM LINE: He’s a good option as an outfielder and could still start

Moves: Nathan, Barmes, Wiggington

• The Rangers signed Joe Nathan in what I think is a very good move, he will slowly recover and should become his old self for at least one more year if not two.  This also means Neftali Feliz will be moved to the rotation, which is another good move.  Nathan might need some time but once the season starts to head toward May he should be a great everyday closer and he fits very well with Texas.  He’s always been a fine closer and even if he doesn’t fully live up to his contract he will shot that a lot.  He’s a closer and any other potion relieving may not be good for him.  I expect him to get between 35-40 saves in Texas and not blow that many.  He will be a very productive closer, who pitches fine at home and against the AL West
• The Pirates have signed Clint Barmes to play shortstop everyday, he’s a slight upgrade over Ronny Cedeno.  He’s a solid everyday starter when healthy and he has some power that he could show from time to time in Pittsburgh.  He won’t do anything great but he will be solid.    His average will be the real struggle but he should hit .265-ish and do okay in Pittsburgh.  it’s an okay fit and sign
• Ty Wiggington was traded to the Phillies and he should be a good back-up utility man who can hit and can pair up with Wilson Valdez.  I like this for the Phillies and he could also be a great pinch hitter and provide some nice pop and big hits.  The con is his average and defense but he should survive and be a good bench player in 2012.  The Rockies will receive a player to be named later.  EDGE: Phillies