Wednesday, July 23, 2008

The Mike Lansing All-Stars

A listing of the most overpaid players in MLB based on this year’s performances.

1BJeffrey Abbott $7.3m
At $7.3m per season, fans should expect Abbott to excel in one category. While a solid defensive player, Abbott is a singles hitting slap hitter who rarely gets on base. Bringing little power to a traditional power position, Abbott leads the league in only one category – money stolen without a mask.

Honorable Mention: Maximo Sullivan $3.4m
Joey Yount $5.4m

2B - Tito Magee$6.8m
The well traveled Tito Magee may be the captain of the Lansing All-Stars this year based off of performance. In limited time, Magee has a .226 BA with a .310 OBP. Not exactly moving markets in his free agent year.

Honorable Mention: Vic Davidson$4.0m

3B - Al Uribe $7.6m
Of all starting third basemen, Uribe ranks last in HRs, RBI and near the bottom in BA and OBP. What’s more remarkable, is that these are his normal numbers and erffdogg still signed him to a 3 year deal in year 6.

Honorable Mention: Bernie Diaz $5.5m

SS - Jung-Lee Hara $4.8m
Splitting time at SS, Hara has done little to justify his salary. With a low fielding percentage and even lower offensive stats, Hara is on the books or 3 more years.

Honorable Mention: Peter Helton, $3.8m

OF: Albert Chavez $7.8
Chavez continues to underwhelm despite a wealth of talent. As he gets older, his defense continues to get worse. His bat has mysteriously remain absent as he has little power and can not hit for average. Other than that, he’s pretty good.

OF: Cory Neal $7.0
Neal is a solid bench player, but at $7m a year he is vastly over paid.

OF: Kevin Reynolds $4.2
Relegated to the bench, Reynolds has done little to push for playing time, batting .201.

Honorable Mention: Homer Lieberthal $6.5m

Shigetoshi Ramirez $5.3m

SP: Tuck Buck $15.5m
Holding the highest yearly salary of any pitcher, you would expect dominance. With Buck, the dominance comes from the batters he faces. With an ERA of 4.48, opponents are hitting .292 off him. Signed to bolster the staff, Buck’s performance has relegated him to the pen. The good news for the rest of the league? He’s signed for two more years.

UPDATE: This reporter was mistaken, Buck's performance has not relegated him to the bullpen, only to continued ridicule.

SP: Santiago Manto $9.0m
Manto was the prize free agent signing of the Red Sox in the offseason, and has proved to be a huge disappointment. Carrying a 5.88 ERA and a 1.59 whip, rumor has it the Red Sox are planning on suing Manto for fraud get their money back,

RP: Fred Cook $7.0m
Cook’s season has gone from bad to worse after a mid-season trade to the Hawkeyes. For the season, opponents are hitting a robust .337 and getting on base at a .400 clip, leading to his 7.44 ERA.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

AL CY Young Favorites

Mike Leius - Season 7 CY Young winner looks to be the favorite to win it again. Maybe not quite the outright favorite that Yamil is in the NL, but almost. At only 24 years old he should be good to win a few more.
15 wins, 6 losses, 2 CG, 168 K, 2.49 era, 1.02 whip in 23 starts

Marty Howell - Howell, a season 8 player of the week award winner, doesn't quite have the stats of Leius. He is only 24 years old, so he should be a great pitcher for many seasons to come.
14 wins, 3 losses, 0 CG, 102 K, 3.15 era, 1.19 whip in 27 starts

Olmedo Mercedes - Mercedes is having a solid season. Definitely a career best for Mercedes.
14 wins, 4 losses, 1 CG, 124 K, 3.71 era, 1.41 whip in 24 starts

Britt Swindell - This 2 time CY Young award winner is having another great season. Statistically Leuis is a little better, so Swindell is probably a long shot at this point to win number 3.
13 wins, 5 losses, 2 CG, 155 K, 3.95 era, 1.36 whip, in 24 starts

Jeff Stanley - Stanley is having a great season, but he is another long shot.
13 wins, 6 losses, 0 CG, 92 K, 2.59 era, 1.25 whip in 22 starts

Monday, July 7, 2008

NL MVP Favorites

Just a quick note. There are a ton of guys who could be included in this list, so sorry if anyone was left out.

Paul Rushford - In only his 2nd season Rushford is crushing the ball. He has already won player of the week this season, and should be a finalist for the MVP award. Oh and he is only 23 yrs old.
.324 BA, 34 HR, 107 RBI, 95 R, 0 SB

Albert Johnson - This 3 time all star, 3 time silver slugger is flirting with .400 right now. Last season the MVP award was a hotly contested battle between Johnson and Cubs 3B Joey Tracy. This season Johnson has to be the favorite for the award.
.392 BA, 28 HR, 125 RBI, 118 R, 35 SB

Omar Nixon - Nixon, a time 3 MVP award winner, is having another MVP like season. He is currently 2nd in HRs behind Mets slugger Randy Lamb. If voters put a greater emphasis on HRs the award is likely Nixons.
.344 BA, 44 HR, 103 RBI, 84 R, 0 SB (do the Reds ever steal?)

Joey Tracy - Last seasons MVP is having a great season. His BA has dropped from last season which will probably hurt his chances at winning a 2nd MVP award this season. Regardless there isn't much to complain about a player with 42 HR on the season.
.267 BA, 42 HR, 95 RBI, 72 R, 0 steals

Randy Lamb - Lambs BA is too low and he strikes out too much to be a serious candidate for the award (Reminds me a lot of Adam Dunn), but 45 HRs on the season is extremely impressive.
.231 BA, 45 HR, 99 RBI, 79 R, 0 SB

William Hernandez - Not quite an MVP season compared to Johnson, and Nixon but still deserves to be included.
.314 BA, 38 HR, 102 RBI, 85 R, 0 SB

Tony Torrealba - No surprise to see another Red on the list. I guess the Reds do steal occasionally. This 2 time all star and season 5 ROY is a long shot at this point, but he is having a great season.
.327 BA, 34 HR, 92 RBI, 106 R, 1 SB

Albert Tapies - Tapies already has a player of the week award this season. He is having a solid season and at 24 yrs of age he should be good for many seasons to come.
.352 BA, 26 HR, 78 RBI, 79 R, 7 SB

Posiedon Warden - Warden, a 4 time all star, is most likely a long shot to win the award (most voters seem to favor HRs), but he deserves the recognition.
.348 BA, 22 HR, 58 RBI, 98 R, 6 SB

NL CY Young Favorites

Yamil Pulido - His name has already been engraved on the trophy. At this point only an injury or a freak collapse could stop him from winning the award for a 4th time. His stats are crazy.
15 wins, 2 losses, 6 CGs, 197 Ks, 2.00 era, .88 whip in 23 starts.

Paulie Sanders - Two time all star Paulie Sanders is definitely having a stellar season. Possibly the best season of his career.
15 wins, 6 losses, 1 CG, 133 Ks, 3.45 era, 1.27 whip in 23 starts.

Dwight Johnson - Last seasons World Series MVP (if there was one) is in the running for his 2nd CY Young award. His stats don't quite match up to Yamils but I doubt Jose is going to complain too much. Especially when the playoffs roll around.
14 wins, 2 losses, 0 CG, 123 Ks, 3.16 era, 1.17 whip in 23 starts.

Xavier Hart - Most teams dream of having a #2 this good. Last seasons NL rookie of the year is having another great season.
13 wins, 3 losses, 0 CG, 115 Ks, 3.42 era, 1.24 whip in 23 starts

Pedro DeSoto - At only 21 years of age DeSoto looks like Yamil part 2. Most teams would love to have a 21 yr old pitcher that is this good. He is probably a long shot to win the CY Young, but should be a finalist for rookie of the year.
12 wins, 6 losses, 5 CGs, 132 Ks, 2.49 era, 1.00 whip, in 25 starts

Dan Hitchcock - In only his 2nd season Hitchcock has developed into one of the best pitchers in the league. At only 25 years of age he should be a solid ace for many seasons to come.
12 wins, 5 losses, 1 CG, 114 Ks, 2.41 era, 1.19 whip in 21 starts

Mel Wagner - Season 6 CY Young winner is having a great season. He started off the season slow at 1 - 4, but has since recovered nicely going 15 - 3 in his last 21 starts.
16 wins, 7 losses, 2 CGs, 147 Ks, 3.98 era, 1.27 whip, in 26 starts.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Power Rankings

1. Monterrey Corn Dogs - The Corn Dogs hold onto to the top spot. The CDs aren't quite as dominant as they were early in the season, but they are still the best in the AL and possibly the league. They currently have a virtually insurmountable 16 game lead in the AL South.

2. Chicago Cubs - Last seasons champs look prepared to defend their title. They are currently 1 game back of the division leading Reds in the NL North. They currently have the 2nd best era in the league.

3. Cincinnati Reds - The Reds recent schedule has been brutal with series against the Swingers, Cubs, Marlins, Astros, and Stangs. The battle for the NL North looks like it could come down to the last few games. They currently have the best era in the league.

4. Louisville Swingers - The Swingers have come from behind to take a 6 game lead in the NL South. It appears the Swingers are going to be the team to beat in the South. I dont think there is a team in the NL that wants to play them in playoffs.

5. Salem Mayhem - Talk about coming out of nowhere. The Mayhem now have the 4th best record in the NL, and a comfortable 17 game lead in the West. They probably have the best record in the league over the last 30 or so games.

6. Las Vegas Slobs - The Slobs have been up and down all season. At times they are absolutely dominant. They currently have the 2nd best record in the AL, and an 11 game lead over the Dirt Bags in the AL West.

7. Atlanta Pork N Beans - The early part of the season was brutal on the PnBs, but they appear to be playing much better. Recently they took 2 of 3 against the Pirates, Mayhem and Stangs, and 2 of 4 against the Swingers. They now have a 6 game lead over the Pirates in the NL East.

8. Nashville Marlins - The Marlins are currently only one game back of the struggling Astros in the NL Wild Card standings. They are still in contention in the South only 7 games back of the Swingers.

9. Salt Lake City Multiple Spouses - The Multiple Spouses lead in the AL North is now only 5 games over Detroit with the Blue Jays and Barracudas only 7 games back. The MS have been one of the best in the AL this season, but they will need to continue to play well if they want to win their division.

10. Detroit Detroit - The Deuce Droppers and Astros both have a better record, but their both struggling. Detroit has been playing really well lately. They have managed to pull within 5 games of the Multiple Spouses in the AL North. Earlier this week they managed to sweep the #1 ranked Corn Dogs in a 3 game series. They also took the first from the CDs in a 4 games series.