Mid-Season MLB Report Card: NL West

Major League Baseball's worst division features one bad team, and four mediocre ones. Which one will actually "win" the division? Who knows at this point. The Padres looked good, but then Adam Eaton got hurt. Jake Peavy and Brian Lawrence are very good pitchers, and will probably sustain their team's life into September and October, before the Fathers die out quickly in the playoffs. The Diamondbacks went out and spent money last offseason. They are four games below .500 on July 23rd. The Dodgers, at nine games worse in the loss column, are still in the hunt for the division. The Giants are terrible and Barry Bonds has been exposed. The Rockies make me grimace every time I decide to watch them. So, right now, this division reminds me of a bad Jerry Bruckheimer flick, which is not a good thing. At the end of the season, Major League Baseball will hire a group of lucky individuals to clean up the leftovers of the disgusting race that will finish the season. There will lots of throw up thanks to awful baseball, and maybe even some explosions, based on the bombs that opposing hitters will be smashing off every pitcher in this division, except for Jake Peavy.

San Diego Padres: To give you an idea of what is expected out of this team in 2005, I will refer you to my 2005 MVP Baseball game on Nintendo GameCube. The Padres are rated 13th and expected to be good. This season, in real life, they are a whopping 50 and 48 on July 23rd. Brian Giles is the only hitter producing in a lineup that holds some potentially devastating power. Phil Nevin, granted he approves of his trade, will leave a little bit of a hole, but Joe Randa will fill that in nicely, getting on base at a much more efficient clip than Nevin. Ryan Klesko and Ramon Hernandez have performed poorly out of the batter's box this season, and Khalil Greene isn't getting any better. I don't think these hitters can blame Petco Park, but they sure can blame their swings and their eyes.

The pitching staff of the San Diego Fathers features starters that really rev my engine (joking, only partly). Jake Peavy is definitely a stud and he will carry any rotation he is ever on until he retires. Brian Lawrence is a very good number two starter, and pitches effectively every night. Woody Williams is a reliable veteran and Tim Stauffer is a young guy that throws strikes. If only Adam Eaton was healthy. The bullpen has Chris Hammond, Trevor Hoffman, and Scott Linebrink, three good pitchers that will sustain late inning leads, if there ever are any. I wish that this team hit more so the guys that do the pitching can get more credit for their efficiency.
Final Season Record: 87-75; 1st place in the NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks: The Rattlesnakes have a great starting rotation. Brad Halsey, Brandon Webb, Shawn Estes, and Javier Vazquez have all consistently turned in quality starts in the first four months of the season. Russ Ortiz just isn't doing as well as they need him to do. Mike Koplove and Lance Cormier have done well out of the bullpen, and adding Claudio Vargas can only help. Hopefully Shawn Estes will return healthy and be as effective as he was prior to his injury; and Brandon Lyon will come back strong and close out games again for the Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks have a great set of players that can immediately help them make a run. The OBPs of Shawn Green, Craig Counsell, Luis Gonzalez, Troy Glaus, Tony Clark, and Chad Tracy, are all something to admire. They get on base and score pretty well. I think they will need even more production out of their big guns, Shawn Green and Troy Glaus, if they are going to overtake the Padres. I just can't see that happening unless the Diamondbacks get scorching hot.
Final Season Record: 86-76; 2nd place in the NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers: Don't look now, but Jeff Kent is delivering, again. I really think Kent has bolstered his resume to make the Hall of Fame with his continuous efforts for whatever team he plays on. Olmedo Saenz and Antonion Perez have done well in their newly found roles, and will continue to produce with Kent. I think Milton Bradley's return will help the Dodgers make a run at the division title. JD Drew needs to earn the money he's making, and he has been of late, unfortunately, Cesar Izturis and Jason Phillips aren't earning theirs. This lineup needs a major shakeup or else they will lose a few too many games to stay in contention.

Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, and Jeff Weaver have all been good this season. Odalis Perez, when he's healthy, is capable of very good starts as well. If only they had a good fifth starter, then the Dodgers might be a lot better off. They do not have Eric Gagne, who, despite being a closer, which is a position that I do not think is hugely important, is definitely the best reliever around and would help the Dodgers greatly if healthy. Yhency Brazoban has been mediocre as Gagne's replacement, and Giovanni Carrara just isn't hacking it. The bullpen is a lost cause, and the Dodgers can't really rely on anyone to bring home wins. Because of this, they need to make a move for Eddie Guardado, or another good reliever on the market, or they will not make up ground on the Padres.
Final Season Record: 81-81; 3rd place in NL West

San Francisco Giants: As much as I would love blaming the Giants' season on Barry Bonds, I can't. The lowest WHIP in the rotation is 1.41. No one can ever fully blame the pitching staff for losing, so we can't dish all the blame on them either, but Jason Schmidt just isn't what he was and the Giants need him to be what he was. Brett Tomko is not going to hold down any team's hitters for very long, Kirk Reuter isn't the 2002 World Series Kirk Reuter, and Noah Lowry stopped winning and started getting hit all over the park to places his fielders were not. Tyler Walker isn't going to shut too many people down late in the game, so hopefully the addition of LaTroy Hawkins will help the bullpen improve. This team's pitching needs a shot in the arm, pun intended, and fast.

Edgardo Alfonzo, Omar Vizquel, Moises Alou, and Ray Durham have all been solid at getting on base and scoring runs. And, no, this is not a review of the 1995 baseball season. The team has done well from the hitting standpoint despite missing Barry Bonds. But while they do miss Barry Bonds' bat, what they don't miss is a loud mouth, arrogant cheater who draws too much media attention and not enough praise from his teammates for his friendly nature. Well, the Giants need more pitching, less injuries, and Barry Bonds, none of which they are going to get this season. See you next April.
Final Season Record: 74-88; 4th place in the NL West

Colorado Rockies: I think the Rockies are fixable (see: Building a Rock-Solid Rockies Ballclub). As of right now, however, they are bad. They do carry a mean, young crop of players that will become very good Major Leaguers in a few years. Todd Helton is always good for a .300-clip or better, and a good .400-OBP to boot. Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Aaron Miles, JD Closser, Clint Barmes, and Matt Holliday, will all be featured prominently in a very good Rockies lineup in the next few years. Too bad Clint Barmes hurt himself, he was a shoo-in for NL Rookie of the Year. The Rockies will not do anything this year, but are preparing to make a run at success in the next few years with the lineup they are assembling.

Jeff Francis is one of the best young pitchers baseball has to offer. Mix him with Jamey Wright, Jason Jennings (just recently hurt), and Chin-hui Tsao, and the Rockies have a good young staff to work with. The acquisition of Zach Day will help the rotation hopefully this season, but more definitely next season. Brian Fuentes is a very capable late-inning reliever, and only needs a little help from Marcos Carvajal and David Cortes to make the Rockies a good late-inning team. Shawn Chacon doesn't fit in with the Rockies, and Byung-Hyun Kim doesn't fit in with baseball. Those two need to go before anything can improve for the Rockies. Hope remains bright for the future, but dismal for the present.
Final Season Record: 68-94; last place in the NL West...Not something you brag about!

This division is by far the worst in Major League Baseball. At least it will be interesting to see who emerges from the sludge that is the NL West. The Padres have the pitching to win the division, and I think they will. The Diamondbacks need to stay healthy and really catch fire, and if they do, they can make a run at the title. The Dodgers need more out of their hitters, and then, and only then, they might contend. The poor Giants need Barry Bonds. And who could forget the lowly Rockies, who without Todd Helton and Jeff Francis, would be sold to another owner for cheaper than the US bought Alaska (which was only $24, by the way). Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out my playoff predictions.

Mid-Season MLB Report Card: NL Central

The NL Central is a done deal as I write this post. The St. Louis Cardinals have dominated to this point and will continue to do so until the end of the season. There is no question in my mind that they are the frontrunners in contention for a World Series ring and can only improve upon their dismal performance in last year's Classic. The Cubs need Nomar Garciaparra to be anything better than average, and they don't even have him healthy. Their pitching health remains questionable and the only reason they have more wins than losses is because of Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. The Astros have surged back into familiar territory, doing the same thing they did last year: falling way below .500, then catching fire and speeding past the traffic in the bottom of the NL Central. The Milwaukee Brewers have pitched their way to a respectable record, just a few games below .500, but are not threatening anyone at this point. And the poor Reds and Pirates are feeding from the same tube, trying to fill up on wins, and avoid choking down losses and sitting in the basement.

St. Louis Cardinals: The Redbirds have one of the top three hitters in the league in Albert Pujols, the best 2-5 stretch of hitters in the league, and a good pitching rotation from 1 to 5. Right now, the only team capable of playing with them come October, in my opinion, would be the Red Sox. I can't say enough how dominant Pujols has been these past few years, and mixed in with Edmonds, Walker, Rolen, Reggie Sanders, and now a dynamic middle infield hitting duo of Grudzielanek and David Eckstein, the Cards just hit and hit and hit again. I see their offense keeping pace and hitting with the best of 'em. Don't expect this team to slow down as long as they are healthy.

The pitching staff carries five very good starters. Chris Carpenter's stats blow my mind, Matt Morris has been effective yet again, and Mulder, Suppan, and Marquis all hold down prominent roles at the end of the rotation. Julian Tavarez, Al Reyes, Ray King, and Jason Isringhausen make the Cards' bullpen great. They have quality pitching from start to finish, and will finish with Major League Baseball's best record as a result.
Final Season Record: 106-56; 1st place in the NL Central

Houston Astros: Winning regularly since the beginning of July, the Astros find themselves smack dab in the middle of a Wild Card race in which they are dangerous contenders. I say Wild Card because I think the division is decided already, barring any tragic slew of injuries that sends the Cardinals into a downward spiral only a Ronald Reagan-budget could compare to. Morgan Ensberg has put together an unexpected but solid run thus far, Willy Tavares has proven to be a great addition, and Lance Berkman has already impacted the team since his return. The Astros offense is fueled by those three, with Craig Biggio also featured prominently. This team should be tough to put out down the stretch, and the rest of their hitters will improve now that Berkman is back in the middle of the lineup.

Pitching is a strong point for the Astros. Soon-to-be 43-year-old Roger Clemens pitches so well for his team that it's hard to believe that he has any losses. With a WHIP of 0.96 and 123 strikeouts in 135 innings, the Rocket has neatly placed himself amongst the Goliaths of the game. Roy Oswalt continues to prove his excellence on the mound, hurling himself to a 1.08 WHIP, and limiting hitters to only 29 walks through 149 2/3 innings. Andy Pettitte has made a nice return to the rotation, pitching well and feeling good, and Brandon Backe has proven to be a very solid fourth starter. If only the 'Stros had a fifth starter... Anyway, the bullpen looks good only when Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler, or Brad Lidge are on the mound, otherwise, they need a little help. The bullpen is not a big enough problem to hurt the Astros as the season progresses, however, and I see them continuing their winning ways.
Final Season Record: 90-72; 2nd place NL Central

Chicago Cubs: The Cubs just aren't good. They have great names, but none of them play. Greg Maddux and Carlos Zambrano have anchored the staff all year, and the recent return of Mark Prior will hopefully help them to improve. Kerry Wood decided not to show up for the 2005 season, never really being healthy, ever. Jerome Williams is a nice addition to the rotation, and Glendon Rusch and Ryan Dempster have been quality in spot starts and relief roles. Sergio Mitre isn't capable of handling the innings he's been throwing, Mike Wuertz has been mediocre at best, and the Cubs just don't have a closer. I don't think the closer position is really as important as "insiders" say they are, so the Cubs should be more focused on ratcheting up the roster positions held by relievers that come in with men on base in the middle to late innings.

Derrek Lee has been a great player all season. He is the man in Chicago. Aramis Ramirez is turning into the beast everyone thought he'd become, and only shows signs of improving. Todd Walker's return will only help the team, as I have always been a fan of Todd, and know he is capable of producing in the batter's box. Jeremy Burnitz has been a nice addition to the team as well. That being said, the Cubs really only feature four good hitters. I don't like the rest of the lineup, and they can't win with them. Poor Corey Patterson just hasn't had a season to remember, and without him producing the way he can, the Cubs definitely feel a void. I just don't think this team is healthy or good enough to win too many games.
Final Season Record: 84-78; 3rd place in NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers: You have to love Brady Clark, Geoff Jenkins, and Lyle Overbay, and their wonderful OBPs. Carlos Lee started off hot, but has really faltered lately. The Brew Crew seem to be maybe one or two bona fide bats away from being a solid hitting club. When you combine that with their pitching, they will be good in the future, I guarantee it. Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder are young, hot prospects that are going to produce and score for the Brewers for years to come, granted the Brewers front office can hold on to them. Lyle Overbay, if he stays, will continue to be a strong presence in the middle of the lineup. I like this lineup in 2006 and even better in 2007.

The Brewers have a great pitching staff, plain and simple. They have low WHIPs and a low amount of walks. These guys get it done, night in and night out. Ben Sheets will hopefully return to normal now that he has recovered from that awful inner ear infection. I love Doug Davis' stuff; mix in Victor Santos and Chris Capuano and this club has four very good starters. Matt Wise and Derek Turnbow are beasts out of the bullpen, delivering the goods every night. Julio Santana has proven to be a quality guy in the middle and late innings, so that's three good relievers that the Brewers can use. Hopefully they can mold some more of their young up-and-comers into crafty starters and relievers to fill out the staff. Again, this team is going to be good no later than 2008, I guarantee it.
Final Season Record: 77-85; 4th place in the NL Central

Cincinnati Reds: Dear Eric Milton, STOP THROWING MEATBALLS! The pitching of the Reds rotation boggles the mind of any fan, let alone a 19-year-old kid like myself. These guys just don't pitch well. With the exception of Aaron Harang's great season thus far, and a very mediocre Brandon Claussen, the Reds starting staff is just plain bad. Paul Wilson has murdered my friend Alex's fantasy team, bringing a slovenly 1.83 WHIP, while lasting only 84 to 85 pitches per game. At least Ramon Ortiz has been ordinary at best (pause for laughter). Eric Milton, as mentioned previously, has recently applied for a chef job at the Olive Garden, so he can earn his keep serving up meatballs in a more accepting environment. The bullpen, anchored by Kent Mercker, Dave Weathers, and Matt Belisle (pause for laughter, again), is really just not even mediocre. The Reds are not going to win any 3 to 2 games.

The Reds' lineup features several quality young hitters. I love Sean Casey, Felipe Lopez, Ryan Freel, and Adam Dunn. Why, you might ask? Because they get on base! It's a shame that Joe Randa has parted ways, because he is another strong OBP producer. Everyone always complains about Adam Dunn's strikeouts, but when you look elsewhere in his stat column, you see 71 walks in 317 at bats, you see 27 homers, and you see a thrilling 4.27 pitches seen per at bat. I like Adam Dunn because he studies pitchers, takes pitches, and doesn't huff and puff like Barry Bonds when he gets walked. If only the Reds could pitch as well as they get on base. Notice that I didn't say "as well as they hit," for all you youngsters out there.
Final Season Record: 64-98; an awful last place in the NL Central

Pittsburgh Pirates: As much as I love the Bucs, they are just not good this year, or mediocre for that matter. The Bucs have a lineup that features a very good young player by the name of Jason Bay. Jason Bay is blossoming into one of the finer young players around, and it will be interesting to see if the Pirates can hold onto him after his contract runs out, and his value rises. Matt Lawton's $7.75-million contract needs to leave, and the Pirates need to find a cheaper, better replacement for him, which won't be very hard. Rob Mackowiak has turned in some solid performances, along with Humberto Cota, Jose Castillo, Freddy Sanchez, and Bobby Hill. I think the talent is definitely there, if Jack Wilson shows everyone that this season is an aberration from the norm, and Jason Bay sticks around, the Pirates will be good again. The Pirates have some good, young talent, so it'll be interesting to watch them play and see how things turn out.

Oliver Perez has been very disappointing this season. A 1.64 WHIP and a poor strikeout count has left many in Pittsburgh wondering what happened to the once promising young Mexican. Zach Duke has torched the Majors since his promotion, and he looks like a major horse that the Bucs can count on. I think Josh Fogg and Dave Williams are good middle rotation guys that will be solid for a few years. The Pirates need to keep either Mark Redman or Kip Wells, because those two are the veterans that the younger starters need to learn from in order to succeed. If they can hold onto Rick White, Mike Gonzalez, Solomon Torres, and Brian Meadows, the Bucs will have a good bullpen to draw from. Jose Mesa has been nothing short of precisely what the doctor ordered in Pittsburgh, but he is rumored to be on the way out, so the Bucs will only be able to reap the benefits of his presence for a little while longer. This team can be good, they just need the right pieces, and to stop relying on Daryle Ward for power.
Final Season Record: 71-91; 5th place in the NL Central

The St. Louis Cardinals are the team to beat, not only this division, but in the National League. They are the cream of the crop, and will continue to deliver the goods come October. I am predicting that they will win the 2005 World Series, and it's only July, that's how good they are. The Astros might sneak up and win the Wild Card. I think they will stick around and get hot just like last year, and finish strong in second. The Cubs need a new trainer or something, because right now, they are dropping like flies, and it seems like an annual story. Maybe the curse is real. All I know is, the Cubs aren't going anywhere fast, and Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez are definitely not to blame for it. The Brew Crew and Pirates are going to be good in 2007 and probably after that as well. As long as these two smaller market teams can afford their young stars, they will find themselves in the thick of things for years to come. The Reds are the Reds, what else can I say? In order to give this post the proper finishing, I have to mention that Eric Milton is awful.

Mid-Season MLB Report Card: NL East

First of all, I'd like to recognize Lance Armstrong as one of the greatest athletes of all time after his latest domination of the Tour De France. Nonetheless, this is a baseball post, so let's talk baseball. The NL East features five good teams all within 5 1/2 games of each other as of July 23. The Braves, surging of late, seem to be capable leaders of the division with their team now recovering nicely from the flurry of injuries that knocked them down to .500. The Washington Nationals, Major League Baseball's story of the year so far, are currently tied with the Braves. They possess a staff of good pitchers but can only hope that Livan Hernandez's problems minimize. The Phillies continue to show that they are a good team disguised as a mediocre ballclub. With their second surge this season, they find themselves only 4 games back in the division. The Mets have produced an extremely disappointing season after their activities in the 2004-2005 off-season. The Marlins, located at the center of every trade rumor in the entire league, find themselves at .500 despite a great pitching staff. This division will feature prominently one of the best races around the league. I think it will come down to the final weekend.

Atlanta Braves: Andruw Jones has single-handedly carried the Braves' offense this year. He continues to show an amazing ability to go big when he needs to. With a rotation that carries names like Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, Thomson, Ramirez, and even Jorge Sosa, the Braves, as usual, remain a tough team to hit against. Leo Mazzone has maintained his reputation as baseball's finest pitching coach. As long as their pitching staff can stay healthy, the Braves will get good starts pretty much every night, and contend for the division for the rest of the season.

Hitting-wise, the Braves cannot fully depend on Andruw Jones all year. Brian Jordan needs to start swinging more efficiently (when he's healthy) and Rafael Furcal needs to get on base more often. The Braves do not strikeout a whole lot, and that means that they either put bad pitches into play, or see a lot of pitches but still get out a lot. I would probably say it's the latter, and we can only expect the Braves hitting to improve as the season moves on. I expect this team to win the division, again, thanks to the overwhelming trio of underperforming teams that will kill themselves as the season progresses.
Final Season Record: 91-71; 1st place in the NL East

Washington Nationals: The Montreal Expos disguised as a different team have found a new home in Washington, D.C. The Nationals have produced the feel-good story of the year, as Roger Ebert would say, and they continue to win. Despite the middle infield's lack of hitting, (thank you Cristian Guzman and your .190 batting average paired with a .231 OBP) the Nats find themselves in the thick of an NL East showdown in the later days of July. Jose Guillen and Brad Wilkerson carry this team's offense, and could use Nick Johnson, who can't seem to stay healthy ever, to provide a third bat. Otherwise, Jose Vidro has produced a disappointing season, and the Nationals are lucky to have good pitching to cancel out the bad hitting.

The whole Livan Hernandez situation worries me, and I think it could be problematic if the Nats want to contend for the division. John Patterson has casually become one of the better pitchers in the NL, and Esteban Loaiza, much to my surprise, has put together a good season as well. I really like Chad Cordero, and picking up Mike Stanton should help the Nats' young bullpen. I think this team will miraculously manage to stay in the hunt for the title, and definitely challenge for the Wild Card. I guess name changes really do make a difference; it's gotta be the jerseys.
Final Season Record: 88-74; 3rd place in the NL East

Philadelphia Phillies: Despite the fact that Vicente Padilla is awful, the Phils have a good rotation. Brett Myers continues to produce quality starts, Cory Lidle has been solid, and Wolf and Lieber are putting together seasons we have come to expect from them. The lineup holds four or five good hitters. Bobby Abreu, after his amazing Home Run Derby performance, can only hope to improve upon another solid year in the batter's box. I liked moving Polanco to give Chase Utley more time, and it has paid off. Jimmy Rollins is hitting .277 but only holds a .319 OBP. Thank god Pat Burrell has finally come around, the sight of another slew of batteries flying into leftfield would be unbearable. And how about Kenny Lofton, this guy always seems to be producing somewhere new each year, but producing nonetheless.

The pitching staff, as aforementioned, has been decent thus far. I like Brett Myers as one of the better young starters in the league, and Lidle, Wolf, and Lieber also show themselves to be solid. If Billy Wagner stays, which seems more probable now that the Phils are back in the playoff hunt, the Phillies will have a strong ace in the hole out of the bullpen. I like Aaron Fultz and Ryan Madson filling the innings in between the starter and Wagner, and I think they will keep the Phils in contention for a lot of late inning, close games. I like the Phillies lineup and pitching, and I think they are legitimate contenders for the division.
Final Season Record: 89-73; 2nd place in the NL East

New York Mets: Carlos Beltran may be hitting .265, he may be carrying a .316 OBP, and he may be the biggest waste of money in Major League history. I have to say, the hype over this guy was really only applicable to the 2004 playoffs. Otherwise, he has yet to really do much. Thanks to Cliff Floyd and David Wright, however, the Mets have more wins than losses. I still can't believe that Mike Piazza made the All-Star Game, with his .259 average and a .319 OBP. It's safe to say that Jose Reyes, Kaz Matsui, Doug Mientkiewicz, and Mike Cameron have all disappointed the Mets' faithful this year. I suspect that there will be major changes again this upcoming off-season.

Throwing the baseball usually is one of the Mets' main problems at this time every year. This year, however, is different. Pedro Martinez has put together amazing numbers (0.84 WHIP, 144 K's in 139 IP) and Kris Benson has been good as well. Package those two with Victor Zambrano's surprisingly solid season so far, and the Mets have a good trio of starters. Tom Glavine just isn't what he was and Kazuhisa Ishii can't seem to find the strike zone very often. Roberto Hernandez has pitched extremely well, not only in my 2005 MVP Baseball season on GameCube, but also in real life. Braden Looper is better than people think, and the addition of Danny Graves should help the bullpen. I think a lot of people are wondering, "What's wrong with the Mets?" And I am, too. What's wrong with the Mets?
Final Season Record: 83-79; 4th place in the NL East

Florida Marlins: AJ Burnett: an Oriole? A Red Sock? A White Sock? A Yankee? Does anyone notice that the Marlins are .500? Dontrelle Willis might be the best pitcher under 30 in the pros, but everyone's talking about Burnett and Lowell. With Brian Moehler putting together a solid season, and Josh Beckett doing his thing (when he's healthy that is), the Marlins have three good pitchers. But AJ Burnett has put together a great season (a WHIP of just 1.27 and 120 K's in 124 2/3 innings), and has fueled all Marlin talk to hover around him. Todd Jones has been wonderful in relief, but Guillermo Mota and Jim Mecir have failed to finish off games effectively. The starters are very good, but they need a fifth starter, and someone to immediately replace Burnett when he moves, or else the Marlins will finish the year looking awfully bad.

Luis Castillo, Carlos Delgado, Miguel Cabrera, Paul Lo Duca, and Juan Encarnacion are all hitting the ball and getting on base at frenzied paces. But Juan Pierre and Mike Lowell are not. I thought Paul Lo Duca should have caught for the NL All-Stars, as he has put together another good season behind the plate. Miguel Cabrera has to be one of the scariest 22-year-old hitters in the history of baseball at this point, and Carlos Delgado continues to just be ferocious. Poor Mike Lowell is being shopped around like a used part at an auto show, with his blistering .280 OBP and 5 home runs. Remember that year Mike Lowell had a .365 OBP and 27 home runs? Oh, you mean last year? What has happened to Mr. Lowell is beyond me, but I can say this: Pitchers are throwing high fastballs and getting him out, so maybe we can blame good scouting for his demise this season. Nonetheless, I am surprised that the Marlins aren't better off in the win column at this point, and it seems like they aren't getting better, but, but, they are still very capable of getting hot and catching the teams at the top of the division.
Final Season Record: 76-86; last place in the NL East

The Braves have the pitching staff, the coaching staff, and Andruw Jones' staff, all things that help any team win a division. I think the Braves will win the division in a close race that ends after the 162nd game. The Nationals and the Phillies are legitimate threats to take the division, and I think the Mets and Marlins are as well if they get hot. It will be interesting to see if the Nationals melt down after their polished play for the first four months of the season, and we'll enjoy seeing how the Phillies finish out another antagonizing season. I like the Braves because they don't have as many question marks as the rest of the division, so as long as they are healthy and a few bats wake up, they will be the winners of this good, but not great, division.

Mid-Season MLB Report Card: AL West

The AL West features one good team and three very, very mediocre ones. As usual, any team with Vladimir Guerrero has a shot to win. But the Angels also have Garret Anderson, Bartolo Colon, Jarrod Washburn, and Francisco Rodriguez. The A's continue to show that they are just getting warmed up. Winning 25 of their last 33, the Athletics' offense has picked up, thanks to Bobby Kielty's bat, among others. Combine the hitting with their already very solid pitching, it comes as no surprise to see the A's winning more games of late. The Rangers seem to be headed down the wrong path towards another fizzling season. They have such a powerful lineup but they don't get on base enough. And, oh, the Mariners, as my good friend Andrew reported from a recent visit to Toronto, the M's look like they are straight out of "Bad News Bears." Yeah, yeah, that's the second reference I've made to the movie, I know. It was a good flick, the first one was anyway. Nonetheless, I will review this division:

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...or is it the California Angels...or the Anaheim Angels...or the Angels in the Outfield...okay, okay, on to the review: Vladimir Guerrero. I mean really, do I need to talk about the Angels any more? The guy is a beast: he's a free-swinging, lovable character that gets dirty when he has to and shows up to play every night. In my opinion, he is the best all-around player in the Bigs. I do believe Manny Ramirez is the best hitter in Major League Baseball, but Vlad is right on his tail. Somehow, he finds a way to hit that changeup that you bounced off the infield grass before reaching home plate.

Anyway, enough about Vlad. The Angels have a good starting rotation and mix in very good relief. K-Rod is amazing, simply put. This team looks to be the clear favorite to take the division, and be a force, again, in the playoffs. Call it another MVP season for Vlad, good innings out of the starters, and strong finishes to each game. The Angels are better than they were last year when the Red Sox rolled them in the ALDS. Look out America, the West Coast is respresentin'!
Final Season Record: 96-66; First place AL West.

Oakland Athletics of the Bay Area of California: As I mentioned earlier, Bobby Kielty and the A's are flaming hot. The Athletics, surely to Billy Beane's enjoyment, have a very low team WHIP, which makes them capable of competing in every game. They have great, young talent in Rich Harden, Danny Haren, Joe Blanton, Huston Street, Justin Duchscherer, Kirk Saarloos, and now even Joe Kennedy. If this staff stays hot, they will be extremely dangerous for the rest of the season and hurt a lot of batters' averages.

The hitting needs to create more. Bobby Kielty and Mark Ellis can't carry an offense, and Eric Chavez continues to disappoint. Jason Kendall has struggled since moving to the American League, and shows no signs of improving. The whole team has to stay hot and hit when it counts, creating the runs that Billy Beane emphasized the importance of in Moneyball. Anyway, I think the A's will stay hot and continue to creep up the ladder of the AL. But next year is a year that will feature them more prominently in October.
Final Season Record: 88-74; 2nd place in the AL West

Texas Rangers of Arlington, Texas; Home of the Rangers: The Rangers lineup features seven, yes, seven, players with 15 homers or more. David Dellucci, however, is the only one with a good OBP. No one on the Rangers roster with more than 10 at bats has walked more than they have struck out. That says to me that the Gauchos swing for the fences...a lot, in fact, try every at bat. Anyway, they still score lots of runs, too bad their pitching is not good.

Everyone talks about Chan Ho Park's turnaround, but I ask, what turnaround? The guy has a WHIP of 1.63. So basically, when Park is on the mound, he gets into lots of jams, gives up some runs, but his team outhits the other team more often than not, giving him an 8-4 record. Kenny Rogers and Chris Young are the only good pitchers in the rotation. I just don't think this staff will ever carry anyone to more than a slightly above average season on a yearly basis. This year is no different.
Final Season Record: 85-77; 3rd place AL West

The Seattle Mariners Located on the Puget Sound Near That Place I Used to Eat Dinner at When I Was in Washington State: Now, now, I know what you are thinking..."Spending so much money on Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson hasn't helped the Mariners out at all this year." Well, you're right. Of course, it doesn't help that Joel Piniero is plain bad this year, along with Gil Meche, Ryan Franklin, and Aaron Sele. Jamie Moyer, and his 14 mph fastball, is the only quality pitcher on the staff, and even he has a mediocre WHIP. Eddie Guardado and Ron Villone are good bullpen pitchers, but Guardado should be headed east, so that leaves us with...Shigetoshi Hasegawa (cue laughter).

Adrian Beltre? More like Adrian "Swing-way...too hard and miss a lot." Granted, Miguel Olivo has more strikeouts than hits, the Mariners don't pay poor Miguel the big bucks to hit. Richie Sexson has struckout 106 times this year. I will type it again to reinforce the facts: 106 strikeouts in 94 games. *Double takes* Ichiro is only hitting .306. Beltre is at .259 with 10 home runs. Boy, the bats are alive in Seattle! The Mariners can't win if their pitching is bad and their hitters don't hit. And right now, that is what is happening in Seattle.
Final Season Record: 70-92; Last Place in the AL West

It will be fun to watch Vlad produce more magic as the season winds down. The A's have an exciting young staff that will be just as fun to see. I think it might actually be a good race for a while, but only if the Athletics get really hot, and the Angels slow down. The Angels have built a great lead and should hold onto it. The California Orange County Angels of Los Angeles, Anaheim, Garden Grove, and surrounding areas, will be contenders come October. The Mariners are not going up anytime soon, and the Rangers need to fix the ol' pitchin' staff before any magic happens in Arlington.

Mid-Season MLB Report Card: AL Central

The AL Central has shaped itself out to look like it will be a landslide, with the White Sox running away with the title. I do not think that will be the case. The Twins have the experience of making the playoffs and know what it takes to get there; the White Sox seem to be in good standing at every All-Star Break then find themselves behind without much of a chance by the end of the season. But this year is different. The White Sox are the best team in baseball. They have given up the least amount of runs in the entire league at this point, and still hit the best out of all the AL Central clubs (based solely on runs scored). The Twins desperately need to get hot and hope that the White Sox slow down a little bit if they are ever going to catch them. On to the teams:

Chicago White Sox: Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Jose Contreras, and Freddy Garcia have all been great for the Sox. Orlando Hernandez, despite his high WHIP and poor K/BB ratio, still has managed to hold a 7-2 record at the break. Their starting pitching mixed with the great work of the bullpen, despite the bloated numbers of Shingo Takatsu and Luis Vizcaino, has proven to be a dominant combination. The reason they are so good so far is because of their pitching, giving up the fewest runs and having three starters with WHIPs under 1.20. That being said, they need to continue this trend of well-pitched, low scoring games because the bats are definitely not going to crush opponents for the next few months.

Hitting looks like a problem for the White Sox when reading the stat sheets for their hitters. Not one hitter in the starting lineup has an average over .295 or an OBP over .370. But if you look at the RBIs and their distribution, it shows that the entire lineup is capable of bringing in runs. They get runs when they need them, which is not very often the way the pitching staff has performed. At the current pace, the White Sox will win 107 games this season. I find that very unlikely, given the fact that their pitching can't be expected to be completely healthy all season. It should be mentioned that the White Sox are only 17-17 against teams with .501 winning percentages or better; whereas they are a staggering 34-8 against teams .500 or below. A telling stat considering they have yet to play their 13 games against the Yankees and the Red Sox. They are still going to be good, no doubt, and people should expect them to be in the thick of the battle for the World Series. Grade: A+
Final Season Record: 101-61; Winner of the AL Central

Minnesota Twins: The Twins are currently 10 games over .500 but nine out of first in the AL Central. Usually, any team with a record that hovers around .500 has been capable of winning the division; but this year is definitely different. The Twins are on the verge of losing their superiority in the AL Central, at least for the time being. The Twinnies have managed to be successful in recent years despite ever really having a big bat. They are always fast baserunners, efficient fielders, well-managed, and stocked with pitching.

The pitching staff has an incredibly solid K/BB ratio, a telling stat of their effectiveness, and yet, with the obvious exception of Johan Santana, lack overpowering WHIPs. These two pitching stats are the most important in my opinion, and are telling of the pitching's efficiency. The stats show that the Twins starters give up lots of hits, which could mean one of two things: a) their fielders aren't getting to as many balls as they used to, or b) their pitches are being hit in places that are unreachable by their fielders. I would assume its the latter. They need Kyle Lohse and Joe Mays to kick things into a higher gear, Brad Radke to stop giving up home runs, and score more runs to support Johan Santana. The lineup must keep getting hits in the right spots, and the pitching has to work things to a higher level, otherwise, the division is gone, and the Twins enter the fight with the Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Indians, A's, and Rangers for the AL Wild Card. Grade: B
Final Season Record: 91-71; 2nd in the AL Central.

Cleveland Indians: The Indians are a stocked, young team that carries more talent under the age of 30 than almost every other team. That being said, it seems like things are just not entirely there yet, and the Indians might need this year as a stepping stone to next year. The hitting has been above average, but not quite to where it needs to be. Travis Hafner's late surge, mixed with the gem, Grady Sizemore, makes it look like maybe the Indians will be better off in the second half nonetheless.

Pitching wise, the Indians really need lower WHIPs from their starters, and bigger things from C.C. Sabathia. Kevin Millwood has turned out to be the best starter in a rotation that features a bona fide ace in Sabathia, two great youngsters in Jake Westbrook and Cliff Lee, and a decent five starter in Scott Elarton. Arthur Rhodes, Danny Riske, and Bob Wickman have all turned in high quality first halves, and if they keep it up, they will keep their team in a lot of ball games. Hopefully for the Indians, Sabathia will heat up and carry the staff, Millwood will be the 2-starter that lots of AL hitters don't want to see on Saturdays, and Hafner and Sizemore will continue to carry the hitting load. These guys need to really get hot if they want to catch the White Sox, but its not entirely out of the question. The young talent may find its groove and go on a big win streak, who knows, but as of now, they do not look like a playoff team. Grade: C
Final Season Record: 87-75; 3rd place in the AL Central.

Detroit Tigers: Considering the fact that the Tigers were one of the worst teams in MLB history just 2 seasons ago, they have done incredibly well this year. Brandon Inge has turned in a great performance in the first half of the season, making the subtle switches in his swing necessary to become the hitter he can be. If Carlos Guillen was healthy enough to play everyday, the Tigers would probably have won perhaps 3 to 6 more games. The biggest hitting problem for the Tigers is that no one walks. Nobody on this team gets on base efficiently or sees a lot of pitches, and that means they are impatient and more likely to swing at bad stuff early in the count. They cannot use Dmitri Young and Carlos Guillen effectively if they do not have any on base for the two key hitters on the team to bring home.

The four main starters: Bonderman, Maroth, Johnson, and Robertson, have all been great this season. They do not walk too many batters, and that keeps the margin for error at a more manageable level. With young Justin Verlander finding his name in headlines as the leading prospect in all of baseball, the Tigers have something to look forward to in years to come. Wil Ledezma is still improving his already decent curveball and change up that will eventually mix well with his fastball, provided he starts keeping it down in the zone. As long as the Tigers keep working on their bullpen--that has some quality young players-- they will be a team to be reckoned with in the next few years. Grade: A-
Final Season Record: 80-82; 4th place in the AL Central.

Kansas City Royals: If there is one team that can compete with the Devil Rays, its the Royals. Angel Berroa doesn't get on base, Mike Sweeney is never healthy, and Terrence Long shouldn't be starting for any Major League team. That's only a third of the lineup, the other two/thirds are just too young or too inexperienced to be expected to bring in much more than the 30 wins they have right now. This team cannot win, ever, without using their prospects more effectively.
When it comes to pitching, the Royals staff is just plain awful. They do not have five starters, and the other four have WHIPs over 1.40, something that can only mean bad things for a team, especially one without hitting. Jose Lima is running on fumes in Kansas City, and needs to be a long reliever/5th starter for a contender to really bring much to the table. Having seen Ambiorix Burgos in person, I believe he will become a good Major League pitcher, but not in 2005; try maybe 2007 or 2008. Poor Zach Greinke looks exactly like Jeremy Bonderman in 2003, making plenty of pitches but losing every night. Grade: F
Final Season Record: 62-100; good for dead rotten last in the AL Central.

The second half of the season will eventually run its course, and at the end of the tunnel, the White Sox will be crowned AL Central Champions. The Twins will definitely be in the running if they catch fire, and at least have a shot at the Wild Card. The Indians really need Sabathia to come around for anything to happen, otherwise, they will ride in the backseat as the third member of the AL Central family. The Tigers will be great in 2007, but this year they are still working their way up, and should be a tough team to beat in Detroit. The Royals are just plain awful, and can only hope that they only lose 100 games. So there you have it, the White Sox win, and the Twins contend for second best.

Mid-Season MLB Report Card: AL East

It's been an exhilarating first half of the season in Major League Baseball. A few pleasant surprises, i.e. the Nationals and White Sox, mixed in with some strange and even disappointing stories like the Yankees entire season thus far or the Kenny Rogers incident. Nonetheless, there are grades to be handed out to each team and bold predictions to be made about the second half. Without further adieu:

AL EAST

Boston Red Sox: I'm not going to lie, the Red Sox have stumbled into first place in the division thanks to a slide by the Orioles and a dreadful start by the Yankees. The Red Sox just recently acquired Chad Bradford in a trade for the reassigned Jay Payton. That move with the Curt Schilling decision creates a little bit more of a positive situation for the Sox bullpen.

Manny Ramirez's batting average remains well below his usual numbers, but his power and run creating ability remain productive. David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek, and Trot Nixon all delivered good first halves, and with the continued progression of Bill Mueller, Edgar Renteria, and Manny, the Red Sox hitters show no sign of slowing down. The main aforementioned problem is the bullpen. If the Red Sox can a) use Schilling effectively and limit the costs of losing Keith Foulke or b) put a starter like Tim Wakefield or Bronson Arroyo in the bullpen and reinsert Schilling in the rotation, and gain positive results out of their move, they should be in prime position to win the division and undoubtedly compete for another World Series. Grade: B
Final Season Record (prediction): 97-65; AL East Champs

Baltimore Orioles: With their recent stumbling after a great start, the Orioles find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a great AL East divisional race. A team that raced out to a 30-16 record, the Orioles have lost 24 of 41 since, and remain in desperate need for a proven arm. With a lineup already capable of scoring runs, the Orioles must focus on acquiring pitching help before their young staff becomes a problem late in the season. Closer B.J. Ryan is the only quality reliever that the Orioles can rely on at this point in the year (Todd Williams K/BB ratio is tantalizingly mediocre), and should accordingly approach the Mariners about Eddie Guardado or the Rockies about Brian Fuentes.

The Orioles should continue to expect Tejada to produce as the best shortstop and one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball, Brian Roberts to keep up his success, and Melvin Mora to improve upon his still quality .298 average. The Orioles need to improve upon their bullpen and hope their consistent first halvers can produce in the second half and keep the Birds in the running. Grade: B+
Final Season Record: 84-78; 3rd place in the AL East

New York Yankees: With a $200-million roster, and just 46 wins at the break, the Yankees perhaps have had the most disappointing first half of recent memory (in Yankee terms). However, statistics show that the Yankees are one of the worst fielding teams ever fielded in the Bronx. They have a major problem fielding balls put into play and recording outs. This puts a lot of pressure on their pitching staff, which has been less than good thus far. But one cannot expect a staff filled with stars-- Johnson, Pavano, Mussina, Brown-- to continue their ineffective ways for much longer. The bullpen needs a little help before Gordon and Rivera, and Tanyon Sturtze should fit in nicely as the main, go-to middle reliever.

With the current lineup still as powerful as any and Jason Giambi starting to turn things around, it's hard to believe that the Yankees are bad enough to miss the playoffs. One has to remember that George Steinbrenner will do anything to win, so keep an eye out for Yankee acquisitions before the trade deadline to improve at second-base, centerfield, starting pitching, or their long relief. Grade: C-
Final Season Record: 88-74; 2nd place in the AL East and the AL Wild Card

Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays are exactly .500--and still only 5 1/2 games out of first place. That being said, they are staring into the dark face of imminent struggling if they do not improve upon several key areas. The pitching rotation still lacks anything much beyond Cy Young frontrunner Roy Halladay, who happens to be out for the next month if not more, and the fresh-faced assassin Gustavo Chacin. Ted Lilly has yet to produce since becoming a Blue Jay. The bullpen, anchored by Miguel Batista, Justin Speier, and Pete Walker, continues to put in quality innings.

The hitting, however, needs major upgrades immediately. Vernon Wells and Shea Hillenbrand are very good at hitting, but still lack that dominant, 4-spot power that every team needs to score runs. The lack of any power beyond Wells has cost the Blue Jays. With sluggers like Adam Dunn rumored to be on the block, the Jays need to become buyers and move players to improve on their starting pitching, the middle of their batting order, and a leadoff type guy. They also lack that one player outside of Hillenbrand and Wells that can regularly get on base, and give Shea and Vernon a chance to knock some runs in. Grade: C
Final Season Record: 82-80; 4th place in the AL East

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Watching this team play is like watching "Bad News Bears" on repeat for an entire pro baseball season. Lou Piniella is literally on his last stand as their manager before he quits out of pure frustration. With only Julio Lugo, Danys Baez, and Carl Crawford worth anyone's time, the Devil Rays clearly show signs of being one of the worst ballclubs in the new Millenium. With a budget that could barely feed a family of four, the D-Rays look like Little Leaguers playing against their dads night in and night out.

There isn't much that could help this club right now. They are just awful, plain and simple, and poor Lou has to manage them. Grade: F
Final Season Record: 53-109; Dead Last.

AL East Outlook: In what began as a shockingly quick changing of the guard, the race for the AL East has shifted back to the capable hands at the All-Star Break. The Red Sox and Yankees will battle it out over the next 2 1/2 months for the lead, with the Orioles standing firm as the third wheel. The Orioles seem like they are a year away from a major World Series run, and this season they are certainly no slouch. Don't be surprised if the Orioles win this division or finish 2nd. Until they prove the critics wrong, however, they will be viewed as the rambunctious kid brother eager to hang out with the real deals in town.

The Red Sox will win this division because the Yankees are too beat up physically to catch up to them. That being said, I believe the Bronx Bombers have at least one more good run in them this season, and that run should put them into major divisional contention unless the Red Sox get hot like they did last year at the beginning of August. Call it a showdown in the AL East, with the Red Sox winning by an inch, the Yankees right on their tails, and the Orioles serving as major dark horses.

Building a Rock-Solid Rockies Ballclub

BUILDING A ROCK-SOLID ROCKIES BALLCLUB
A Layman’s theory to end the suffering in Denver


Describing the Colorado Rockies draws several underwhelming adjectives: mediocre, borderline, so-so, the list goes on and on. Compiling a whopping 882-918 record in franchise history, reaching the Major League Baseball playoffs just once via the wild card, and faltering in the shadow of Colorado’s other major sports teams’ success in years past, the Rockies lack a compelling portfolio to gain support in the area. Without the presence of a lineup to surround perennial All-Star Todd Helton, the Rockies continue down the path towards persistent mediocrity, consistent losing, and perhaps a repeating role as the league’s cellar dweller. That being said, the Rockies hopes remain alive. Baseball is not dead in Denver. With the proper personnel, more flexibility from ownership, and a better understanding of the ballpark in which they play, the Rockies organization can move back towards the contender’s side of baseball, and future success as a franchise.

The Outfield

If a team plays in a large space, where the ball flies farther than anywhere else, why not fill the outfield with speedy players? Speed remains present on the road as well, and would help the Rockies both at home and away. Allowing Juan Pierre to leave boggles the mind of any Rockies fan with a brain. The current outfield leaves a lot of space uncovered at Coors Field, or any other field for that matter. The injury-prone Preston Wilson soaks up barely enough of the area around him to remain effective, let alone absorbing major amounts of contract money from an already meager Rockies budget. First of all, trade Preston Wilson for pitching, preferably starters to replace the pitchers leaving Colorado. The Washington Nationals, eager to find a player to add some hitting, show interest in Wilson. With supposedly Zach Day and J.J. Davis available, the Rockies could move some money despite having to inevitably contribute to Wilson's whopping $12.5-million contract, while acquiring a solid sinkerball pitcher and a strong corner outfielder with growing potential. If the Rockies release or trade Brad Hawpe and Dustan Mohr, $1.2-million frees up for the collection of faster players and better pitching. With a serviceable outfielder in up-and-coming Jorge Piedra, a player that can play any outfield slot, and quality Cory Sullivan in center or left, the Rockies would then have space for Davis in left. The Rockies still lack a proven veteran outfielder, however, and in moving Todd Helton, would need to get a quality position player to help in the outfield.

Acquiring an available outfielder with Major League-ready tools necessitates moving Todd Helton and his $12.6-million contract. Any ball club desiring a career .339-hitter with opposite-field power and capable hands for a firstbaseman would love to move players to gain a future Hall of Famer. That brings us to the Baltimore Orioles, a team fighting to stay in step with the Yankees and Red Sox that is desperate to add another bat to its already powerful lineup. Where else will teams in 2005 look other than Colorado, where a future Hall of Famer waits to move? The Orioles possess three very likeable players that would immediately help the Rockies. Granted this deal would be a blockbuster, both teams would benefit greatly if it occurred. The Rockies would send Todd Helton ($12.6-million), with Brad Hawpe ($317k) in exchange for lefty reliever Steve Kline ($2.5-million); Jason Grimsley ($2-million); Luis Matos ($1.025-million); and BJ Surhoff ($1.1-million). The Rockies' front office still needs to pay some of Helton's contract surely, but they receive two ready-made relievers and two quality outfielders. With Surhoff getting spot starts all over the outfield and first base, and Matos seeing major time in center or left, the Rockies improve their fielding and gain back at least part of the hitting void left by Helton.

With a quality outfield of Luis Matos, Cory Sullivan, Jorge Piedra, J.J. Davis, and BJ Surhoff, the Rockies pitchers would be more comfortable tossing the occasional curveball and letting their outfielders chase them down. Not only would this outfield provide quality fielding, they would also get on base, steal bases, and generate a little excitement for the fans.

The Infield

With the departure of Todd Helton, the Rockies would then be able to employ Ryan Shealy, their promising young prospect with pop in his bat. The rest of the infield would need to consistently practice feeding the alligator. Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes, and Aaron Miles seem to be quality fielders. With Eddy Garabito filling in for the injury-prone middle infielders, the Rockies immediately obtain a serviceable infield.

These players all exemplify strong hitting as well. Clint Barmes, before his devastating injury, bolstered a .329-clip. As of June 19, Garrett Atkins hit a solid .284, while Ryan Shealy immediately showed his power, socking his first Major League home run in his third game in a Rockies uniform. Aaron Miles holds a career .295-batting average after one full season in the pros. With the youth and exuberance of the Rockies infield, gloves would meet groundballs making scoreless innings more likely, while gaining more hits from the batter’s box.

Pitching

Until now, pitchers throwing at Coors Field regularly suffer from high ERAs, exaggerated power numbers against, and poor won-loss records (thank you position players). Nonetheless, attaining a successful pitching staff remains a reachable goal. Jason Jennings and Jeff Francis pitch comfortably at Coors Field, meaning, among other things, that they can be successful with the right people around them. Jamey Wright, a 30-year-old right-hander with good stuff, remains a viable option as a third or fourth starter. With Zach Day in the mix, the Rockies starting rotation would seem far more imposing than the current staff. Groundball pitchers, with the exception of Joe Kennedy who needs to move on, would keep the Rockies in games longer.

The Rockies need to then show Shawn Chacon, Joe Kennedy, and Byung-Hyun Kim the door. For the most part, it hasn’t worked out here in Colorado for Chacon, who shows potential and will be successful, but not in Rockies’ purple. The Rockies missed out on a pitcher that certainly fits the description of a potential successful starter at Coors Field in Derek Lowe. Lowe gained his reputation as a quality starter several years ago and continues to possess a killer trio of moving fastballs with his sinker. With the movement of heavy contract money from the departures of Wilson, Helton, Chacon, Kennedy, and Kim, affording a quality groundball-starter becomes a pipe dream no more.

The Rockies bullpen, headed up by Kline, Grimsley, and Fuentes then becomes less used and more capable. With the acquisition of Kline and Grimsley, the Rockies possess three quality late-inning relievers. Marcos Carvajal and David Cortes show signs of becoming effective middle relievers, and with starters capable of pitching seven-plus innings, they would not be used every night. The money freed up then becomes available to improve their bullpen as there are plenty of relievers around Major League Baseball that can fill the middle and long relief roles well for fewer dollars.

The Colorado Rockies, like any other franchise in professional sports, can be successful. With an attitude that promotes winning, the ball club can improve itself greatly. Improvement only comes with the overhaul of big contracts, a focus on speed in the outfield, groundball pitchers, quality infielders, and a sturdy bullpen. J.D. Closser remains a strong prospect, along with Barmes, Shealy, Sullivan, and Piedra, but Major League experience goes a long way, with some of the young Rockies’ players already learning the ins and outs of playing for a losing ball club. The younger players carry a zest for the game that ailing veterans lose as they grind out losing season after losing season. The Colorado Rockies enjoyed the success of Todd Helton and even Preston Wilson, but for the Rockies to become collectively successful, these players must head for the exits.

The Rockies play in a division that consists of two hitters’ parks, two average parks, and one pitchers’ park. If the Rockies can counteract the mentality that Coors Field is a Home Run Paradise, and throw down in the zone with good groundball stuff, they can be a successful staff on the road and still win at home. That being said, the quality young players already showing signs of improvement for the Rockies would immediately swing the bats, field the grounders, and produce some wins.

Many people over the years have made several claims to the secret of success for the Colorado Rockies: ownership that’ll spend more, 8 field players that all hit 20-plus home runs, better management, etc. The Rockies cannot exist in the Major Leagues hoping to out-hit every opponent. They cannot simply hurl out any old starter and employ a zit-faced 18-year-old intern to clean up the remains in the third inning, when the Rockies trail 12-11. They must obtain starting pitchers that throw groundball-stuff, fielders that keep their butts down and feed the proverbial alligator, and speedy players in the outfield to shag down gap shots. They can do so by moving cash and players to bring in different talent.

J.R.R. Tolkien once said, “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” In Denver, Colorado, the road of baseball lies underneath the gloomy cloud that is losing, but there is still hope. If Rockies fans remain faithful, they will soon be rewarded. Management must see the need for different types of players and immediately pursue such talent. Fans will come to the ballpark to see a competitive club, the dollars will flow in, and hope will be restored.