Power Rankings: 5/5/13

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

Free Agent Profile: Grady Sizemore

OVERVIEW: Sizemore became the Indians best and most popular player after coming up in 2004.  He could do it all and was one of the top young players in the AL Central and AL.  He can still help a team out a ton but after getting injured in August 2009 he was unable to stay healthy.  One injury after another ha derailed the past 3 years of his career.  He’s only 30 and he can still play center field well but after being injured all of 2012, he will have to settle for a smaller contract.  For the production he can put up I’m kind of surprised that a team hasn’t taken a flyer on Sizemore yet.  He can still hit and could regain his old form for a couple of years.  Sizemore can help a team out if he can stay healthy and he’s worth a look even if you have a packed outfield.
STATS: In a full season he could hit 25-30 HR and get at least 70 RBI, it all depends on where you put him in the line-up.  Near the top he could be a big run scorer too.  If he stays healthy for a whole year, his numbers could closely resemble his old numbers.  The only thing is his average has dipped and he won’t likely bring it up a ton, but he could still not have an atrocious average and he can get on base well.
FITS
Rangers- This is his perfect fit, he could hit well here and help Texas stay competitive since they lost Hamilton and need an OF BEST FIT
Indians- He is one of their better players in the past 10 years
Yankees- Seems like a place he could do some damage but he would be more of a role player
Cardinals- He would be a decent fourth outfielder in St. Louis
Orioles- They missed out on Nick Swisher, but he may be a bargain if they get him
Rays- They just lost J Upton, a sleeper fit for Sizemore
IDEAL CONTRACT: 1 year, 4-6 Million 3-5 Million in incentives
CAN HE STAY HEALTHY?: That’s a matter of luck and how your body is built.  Sizemore can stay healthy for a whole year as he’s played 162 games more than once and if he does, he could put a little bit of fear back into pitchers
BOTTOM LINE: A former All-Star CF, who might just still be one.  Pick him up

Red Sox Sign Mike Napoli

The Red Sox and Mike Napoli have a agreed to a three year contract that will pay Napoli 39 million.  Napoli is expected to play mostly at first base in the first year of his contract.  Napoli provides much needed power for the Red Sox and should hit very well at Fenway.  It’s a great fit for both sides and I think the Red Sox will enjoy their three years of Napoli.  His power should go back up to the 30 HR territory he was in during 2011 and his batting average should go way up in Fenway.  He should also do well against teams like the Yankees.  The Red Sox line-up is starting to look a little bit scarier now.  Napoli should be a guy like Beltre who really, really benefits from Fenway an the Red Sox were smart to lock him up for more than one year.  He’s a step in the right direction for the Sox too and though he won’t probably hit as high as .300, he won’t hit lower than .260-ish.  He can still play well enough to stick behind the plate for Boston if they need it at times this year, but I would keep Ross and Salty if I were Boston and go keep Napoli at first, as it’s best for their offense.  Napoli, who will be a below average defender but I don’t think he will hurt them a ton at first on defense.  His numbers in Boston should look impressive in the end at the very least.  Very good and needed signing for the Red Sox.

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
3. DH David Ortiz
4. 1B Mike Napoli
5. RF Jonny Gomes
6. 3B Will Middlebrooks
7. C Jarrod Saltalamachhia
8. LF Daniel Nava
9. SS Jose Iglesias

 

Torii Hunter Visits Detroit, Tigers Leading Bidder

Torii Hunter was in Detroit today visiting the Tigers and they are prepared to offer him a multi-year deal.  Hopefully only worth about two years as he is getting older and a decline is due at some point, but or the Tigers to have him in right field and hitting second would be huge for them, and he is a major upgrade over Delmon Young.  Of all the outfielders in this free agent class, Torii may not fit the best with the Tigers and Victorino may be the best fit but Torii has talent and the defense he brings to the Detroit outfield is great.  To have Dirks in left and Jackson in center along with him will be a great outfield and signing him and teaming that up with a Victor return the top of the Tigers line-up could be a machine.  At this point, Torii signing with Detroit seems likely and possibly the best move.  The Angels would hurt from his loss but with all of their players can’t afford to keep hom.  The Rangers are the only competition at this point and he though he fits with them and makes them a ton better too, he looks to be Detroit bound.  This is the player the Tigers need and he can hit well in Comerica.  He is just a good choice,a nd could add 20 homers from the two spot.  Torii will sign soon, as he did when coming to LA in the 2007/08 offseason.  PREDICTION: Tiger for 2 years, 23 Million

Line-Up With Torii

1. Jackson CF
2. Hunter RF
3. Cabrera 3B
4. Fielder 1B
5. Martinez DH
6. Dirks LF
7. Peralta SS
8. Avila C
9. Infante 2B

That looks amazing and Hunter protects Jackson and is protected by Cabrera, a hitter’s dream, even better than in LA with Pujols.  Martinez can handle all the pressure in the five hole too, so this line-up looks great

2012 MLB Playoff Prediction: Pre-Postseason

AL Wild Card
Orioles over Rangers 6-5
NL WIld Card
Braves over Cardinals 7-5
ALDS
Yankees over Orioles 3-2
Tigers over Athletics 3-1
NLDS
Nationals over Braves 3-2
Reds over Giants 3-2
ALCS
Tigers over Yankees 4-2
NLCS
Nationals over Reds 4-2
World Series
Tigers over Nationals in 7

MLB Power Rankings: 9/9/12

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

Revised MLB Standings Predictions

Not being a homer, sticking with my Tigers pick, they hvae finally came together and they might not stop, anything is possible but I think these right here are going to be right!

AL EAST	W-L
Yankees	97-65
Rays	90-72
Orioles	88-74
Blue Jays	84-78
Red Sox	80-82
AL CENTRAL	W-L
Tigers	94-68
White Sox	85-77
Indinas	76-86
Royals	73-89
Twins	69-93
AL WEST	W-L
Rangers	94-68
Angels	92-70
Athletics	86-76
Mariners	71-91
NL EAST	W-L
Nationals	95-67
Braves	93-69
Marlins	85-77
Mets	81-81
Philies	70-92
NL CENTRAL	W-L
Pirates	94-68
Reds	90-72
Cardinals	88-74
Brewers	75-87
Cubs	67-95
Astros	64-98
NL WEST	W-L
Giants	96-66
Dodgers	91-71
D’Backs	82-80
Padres	70-92
Rockies	68-94
Wild Card-AL	Rays	over	Angels	9 to 6
Wild Card-NL	Dodgers	over	Braves	4 to 3
ALDS	Rays	over	Rangers	in 5
	Tigers	over	Yankees	in 5
NLDS	Nationals	over	Dodgers	in 4
	Giants	over	Pirates	in 4
ALCS	Tigers	over	Rays	in 6
NLCS	Nationals	over	Giants	in 7
WS	Tigers	over	Nationals	in 6

MLB Power Rankings: July 20, 2012

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

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