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

Opening Home Series Preview: Yankees @ Tigers

PREDICTIONS:
Friday: Yankees 3 Tigers 7
Saturday: Yankees 1 Tigers 10
Sunday: Yankees 4 Tigers 5
PITCHING MATCH-UPS
FRIDAY- Doug Fister vs Ivan Nova- Nova is good and usually lucky, but a team like the Tigers can get to him.  Fister always looks impressive in big games and his first start should be just that.  he should mow down Yankees hitters PREDICTED LINE: Nova: 4 IP 5 ER 11 H 4 K 2 BB  Fister IP 2 ER 6 H 8K 1 BB
SATURDAY- Max Scherzer vs David Phelps- Phelps shouldn’t even be a match for the Tigers. Scherzer should be pumped and pitch well at Comerica.  Expect him to be in the form he was in during August of last year.  And expect a ton of K’s.  PREDICTED LINE Phelps 3 IP 7 ER 10 H 3 K 4 BB  Scherzer 7 IP 1 ER 4 H 11 K 3 BB
SUNDAY- Justin Verlander vs CC Sabathia- The battle of the aces is going to be a good one, but Verlander should win, because he is the ace after all.  He has everything working for him and should kick off 2013 with a bang, like he did 2011.  Sabathia should do good but I can’t see him winning this one.  PREDICTED LINE Sabathia 6.2 IP 3 ER 7 H 8 K 2 BB Verlander 7 IP 2 ER 5 H 10 K 1 BB
HITTING: It should be a slugfest.  Expect big series from the Tigers big guns and the Yankees should have good series from Hafner, Boesch, and Cano.
ANALYSIS: The Tigers always play the Yankees well and the Tigers also usually play well during their first series of the year.  With the team they have they can handle the Yankees, just like they did last year with the Red Sox.  I expect a lot of guys on the Tigers to come out of this series with impressive stats.
KEYS: Fir the Yankees it’s to hold the offense like the Twins were able too and for the Tigers it’s too heat up and gain momentum
Series Hero: 3B Miguel Cabrera

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

MLB Postseason Pick’em: 10/14/12

Tigers over Yankees 7-6
I know I said NYY would win Game 2 and it will be close but I see losing Jeter as a big factor in this game and the Tugers slugging away ln Kuroda
Giants over Cardinals 6-3
The Giants won Game 1 of the NLCS in 2010 and I expecta repeat of that, the home crowd will help while their pitching does what it does and they win a big Game 1

Yankee Lose Jeter

The Yankees offense is falling apart.  Rodriguez and Swisher are ice-cold and now Derek Jeter is hurt and he may not be the Yankees best player anymore but he is a postseason legend and always hits for them and he is almost irreplaceable while in the middle of a late career surge season.  Alex Rodriguez needs to step up for sure now and he just may a little, but he tends to choke and I wouldn’t bet against that either.  The big deal is that Jeter is a great leadoff hitter and even though Ichiro can fill that role being good but less productive it creates a hole somewhere else in the line-up and now Russell Martin is hitting fifth which isn’t good for the Yankees.  It also gives the Tigers an edge at shortstop and some momentum and makes winning this series look even harder for the Yankees.  Now Jayson Nix and Eduardo Nunez are playing short and they are not only a huge downgrade all-around but other than having some power probably won’t hit much a t all and their defense is shaky at best.  Losing Jeter and his WAR of 3.2 will hurt the Yankees this series and his a huge dent for them.  The offense really has to step up to make the loss of Jeter as minimal as possible.  Jeter will come back next year and I expect to see him in another postseason doing good just like he always has.

MLB Pick’em 10/13/12 and Updated Predictions

Tigers over Yankees 6-4
Fister does grerat and Tigers geta ahold of Pettitte some while Cabrera breaks out

ALCS: Tigers in 7 (maybe in 6)
NLCS: Giants in 7
World Series: Tigers in 6

2012 ALCS Preview: Tigers vs Yankees

My Pick: Tigers in 7 (They win games 1, 3, 5, and 7)
This should be a good and close series and could be a historical one like this postseason has been.  So watch out as offense should control most of the series but could eb stopped at any time with the arms.
Positional Head-to-Head
C: Avila vs Martin: Avila win since he has a higher average and better defense even though Martin is okay and has been clutch
1B: Fielder vs Teixeira: Fielder has a higher average, OBP, homers and a lot more and is better all-around besides defense
2B: Infante vs Cano: Both are good but Cano is better and could some damage, especially in the postseason
3B: Cabrera vs Rodirguez: Cabrera is way better and will do better this series and will be special like he is, Rodriguez will choke and strikeout mostly
SS: Peralta vs Jeter: Jeter is the Yankees Mr. October of present, nobody will compare during the playoffs at shortstop
LF: Dirks vs Suzuki: Wash, you may think I’m crazy but they will both hit well this series
CF: Jackson vs Granderson: Jackson, Granderson will play center good, but Jackson could better and he has power and will hit homers, but so could Jackson
RF: Garcia/Berry vs Swisher: Garcia and Berry will be good and Swisher might struggle a bit, but he still wins
Manager: Leyland vs Girardi: Leyland, it’s close but Leyland has had a bit more success
Rotation: Tigers will win this hands down even with the Yankees good rotation
Bullpen: Yankees, the Yankees win this by a lot
Bench: Tigers, I like it a bit betetr but both will play a big role in the sereis

Grades:             Tigers       Yankees
Rotation             A-               B-
Bullpen              C                 A-
Line-Up             A                A
Bench                 A-              B+

STARTERS: The Yankees have Sabathia, Pettitte, and Kuroda and all are great to decent but the Tigers can hit this rotation very well and Sabathia has struggled against Detroit in the postseason.  Pettitte could put up the best numbers this series and do a good job.  The Yankees have Hughes who right now for them is a liability.  The Tigers rotation is always tough with a core of Fister, Scherzer, and Sanchez could all put up good numbers and are one of the better groups of arms out there and hitters should be more than fearful of them on top of Verlander, who is getting better and better each postseason series.

LINE-UP: These line-ups could put up some runs despite the pitching some games and the Tigers 1-4 hitters should d well and I see Avila, Peralta and Young breaking out somewhat to a lot and all of the Yankees hitters should do something big this series besides Swisher, Rodriguez and some of the bottom of the order guys.  Cabrera, Jackson and Fielder will be the big hitters for the Tigers this series like they were in the ALDS, regular season and even spring training.  Young heats up against the Yankees and ALCS too and Cabrera kills the Yankees and could be this year’s Nelson Cruz of the playoffs.

KEYS:
Tigers: Offense to breakout really big and support pitching so bullpen isn’t even a factor, pinch run Berry late and in every chance you get, and start him in a few games too
Yankees: Control the offense as best as you can

Orioles vs Yankees ALDS Game 5

The Orioles have stayed in it all year and lately the Yankees have struggled in these games.  It will be close for sure.  The Orioles will stay close and did what they did last night, only the offense could be a lot better
Keys:
Orioles: Manny Machado and the offense to keep the Orioles in it
Yankees: Sabathia to keep the Yankees in it

Pitching Match-Up
Jason Hammel vs CC Sabathia Sabathia will have a decent outing no matter what and could be dominant like always, and he could have a start that is only a bit worse than Verlander did yesterday.  He needs to keep control and o 6 strong at least and get the big outs and just have a normal CC game and be the ace that he is.  PREDICTED LINE: 6.2 IP 3 ER 6 H 3 BB 7 K  Hammel should surprise everyone and not be untouchable but play very well and he should overpower hitters and I don’t see him getting bombed or anything like that at all.  Hammel is a good starter and should be starting this game for the Orioles

Line-Ups: The Orioles line-up is good and McLouth, Davis, Jones and Wieters could make some production and 3 RBIs at least,b ut I’d start Thome oer Ford even with a lefty.  They have enough in their line-up to win though and guys like Machado or Reynolds could come up huge.  Sitting Rodriguez is a questionable move for New York, I may have just started Chavez at DH and hit Rodriguez ninth.  Regardless this offense is non-stop and tough, but they can be stopped and the O’s pitching has found a way to do that in some games this year.

This game is a complete toss-up and almost even.  The Yankees have more talent but the Orioles are so good at taking advantage of things and playing well I wouldn’t be surprised either way, though I picked the O’s.  It could be a classic postseason match-up.  If the O’s do get eliminated I think they had a successful year and great postseason too.

Potential Hero: SP Jason Hammel or 2B Robinson Cano

MLB Pick’em for 10/12/12

Orioles over Yankees 5-4
CC tends to do well in these games and against the O’s but if he’s a little wild, they’ll jump all over him.  The Orioles will stay in it no matter what and I see them puling out a close one.

Nationals over Cardinals 7-6

Gonzalez has been struggling a bit but the Nationals can hit Wainwright okay too, and even though the Nationals are the better team, the Cardinals will stay in it like they always do.

Orioles Still Have a Shot

The Orioles may not have the best chance to win it all, but I wouldn’t count them out.  Is till think the Yankees will move onto the ALDS, but baseball is wacky and so is this Orioles team that really shouldn’t be in this position.  Tonight is the Orioles big shot with Saunders going, he could have a strong game like he did in the Wild Card and if he does I think the Orioles can get some runs off of Hughes and they can win, even on the road and if they win tonight, their chance of winning tomorrow gets a lot better.  The offense needs to roll though and not just hit homers but get hits and they have to execute in key situations like they have all year, that’s why they’re here and that’s why I won’t count them out.  Even if they lose, they will lose close ones like last night.  Jim Johnson really needs to get the save too, because now he can’t blow a save and still be alive, and he’s the part I’m nervous for the Orioles for, but he can do it most of the time.  If the series comes down to a Game 5 on Friday night, I will take the Orioles to play close and tough and the orioles to give Sabathia a bit of a tought time, but it’s too close to say who will win for sure, even though the Yankees are the favorites.  Girardi and Showalter should make some interesting, but likely good choices in their bullpens and game selections too.  Alex Rdoriguez probably won’t perk out of his slump these next two games either.