Cliff Lee: I've already talked a lot about who should win the AL and NL MVP Awards but there is no doubt who the AL Cy Young Award winner should be. Cliff Lee has been dominating the American League since the season started and today he will go for win number 20. Lee is truly an amazing story because he was horrible last season and spent most of it in the minor leagues trying to regain his old form. When Lee came back to the Indians this season, I think most people had written him off but boy were they wrong. Lee has a 19-2 record with a 2.43 ERA and 145 K's in 185.3 innings pitched. That is good for a 180 ERA+, which means he is almost two times better than a league average pitcher. Lee has shown excellent control by walking only 27 batters all season, which has him on pace for a career low. The improved command this season is because he has thrown his fastball more often and is locating it better. He also is allowing less than a hit per inning for the first time in his career. The low walk totals with the decreased hits allowed are definitely good indicators of why Lee has been able to turn things around this season. Don't forget he is also a lefty and it sometimes takes them a little longer to get things together at the big league level, just look at Jamie Moyer for instance. The only other starting pitchers in the AL who have a chance to contend with Lee this season for the Cy Young are Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina. There is also the possibility that K-Rod breaks the saves record and wins the Cy Young but I feel like it would be a shame if Lee doesn't win it and it's about time I showed him some love. On a side note, how tough would the Indians have been in the second half of the season if they never trade Sabathia?
Josh Beckett: Josh Beckett is still having issues with his right arm and was placed on the 15-day DL. The Red Sox don't seem to think it is a big deal but you have to wonder how effective Beckett will be the rest of the season. He actually has not been all that great this season to begin with. He has posted a 11-9 record with a 4.34 ERA and 145 K's in 149.3 innings. That is good for just a 104 ERA+, which makes him just slightly above league average, and not what you would expect from your ace pitcher. Sure, Beckett has been great in the postseason with a 6-0 record and 1.73 ERA with 82 K's in 72.2 innings pitched, but if his arm is bothering him, he may not be able to duplicate his postseason success of the past. Beckett's health and effectiveness could be one of the key factors of the whole playoffs because the Red Sox certainly have as good of a chance as anyone to win the World Series this season.
Tampa Bay Rays: You got to give it up to the Tampa Bay Rays as they secured their first winning season ever and now have climbed to 84 wins on the season since then. The Rays need to only go 16-11 the rest of the season to win 100 games. Yes, you read that right, the Rays have a very, very good chance to win 100 games this season. That feat would be truly incredible for a franchise that has been a perennial loser. I love the Rays pitching with Scott Kazmir, Jamie Shields, and Matt Garza at the front of the rotation, so I think they have a great chance to make some noise in the playoffs. I am still a little leery of their offense though but they just seem to get it done when they need to, so do not be surprised if the Tampa Bay Rays are representing the AL in the World Series this season. It will be a tough task for them though because the Red Sox and Angels are certainly capable of winning it all and these playoffs should be a treat to watch. I will certainly be rooting for the Rays throughout the playoffs and hopefully the fans come out and support their team. It would be a shame to see them playing the Red Sox in the post season and having the Boston fans outnumber the Rays fans.
C.C. Sabathia: Sabathia has been great this season for the Brewers but yesterday there was some controversy involved with his greatness. Sabathia was pitching a no-hitter when he made what appeared to be an error by dropping a little dribbler that was to the third base side of the mound. However, the score keeper in Pittsburgh scored it as a hit and it would up being the only hit that Sabathia would give up in the game. The Brewers have sent tapes to MLB and are trying to get the call reversed so it's possible that Sabathia may still get a no-hitter, which would be one of the most bizarre no-hitter's ever. Sabathia wouldn't even get a chance to celebrate it, so it's almost anti-climatic. Check out the video below for the Brewers reaction and the play itself:
Other MLB News:
- The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired David Eckstein from the Blue Jays for minor league pitcher Mike Beck. I would imagine Eckstein will get the majority of the playing time at 2B with Orlando Hudson out for the rest of the season.
- The Blue Jays also traded Matt Stairs to the Phillies and called up minor league prospect Travis Snider. Snider is their best positional prospect and will get a long look the rest of the season to see if he is ready to be a full time player in 2009.
- The Angles placed Howie Kendrick on the 15-day DL with tightness in his left hamstring. In his place, they have called up minor league prospect Brandon Wood, who was mashing the ball in the minors: .296 with 31 homers and 84 RBI
- The Red Sox acquired Mark Kotsay to help them out in the outfield while J.D. Drew is on the disabled list. Kotsay joints an outfield that already includes Jason Bay, Coco Crisp, and Jacoby Ellsbury.
More: MLB & MLB Weekly
Josh Beckett: Josh Beckett is still having issues with his right arm and was placed on the 15-day DL. The Red Sox don't seem to think it is a big deal but you have to wonder how effective Beckett will be the rest of the season. He actually has not been all that great this season to begin with. He has posted a 11-9 record with a 4.34 ERA and 145 K's in 149.3 innings. That is good for just a 104 ERA+, which makes him just slightly above league average, and not what you would expect from your ace pitcher. Sure, Beckett has been great in the postseason with a 6-0 record and 1.73 ERA with 82 K's in 72.2 innings pitched, but if his arm is bothering him, he may not be able to duplicate his postseason success of the past. Beckett's health and effectiveness could be one of the key factors of the whole playoffs because the Red Sox certainly have as good of a chance as anyone to win the World Series this season.
Tampa Bay Rays: You got to give it up to the Tampa Bay Rays as they secured their first winning season ever and now have climbed to 84 wins on the season since then. The Rays need to only go 16-11 the rest of the season to win 100 games. Yes, you read that right, the Rays have a very, very good chance to win 100 games this season. That feat would be truly incredible for a franchise that has been a perennial loser. I love the Rays pitching with Scott Kazmir, Jamie Shields, and Matt Garza at the front of the rotation, so I think they have a great chance to make some noise in the playoffs. I am still a little leery of their offense though but they just seem to get it done when they need to, so do not be surprised if the Tampa Bay Rays are representing the AL in the World Series this season. It will be a tough task for them though because the Red Sox and Angels are certainly capable of winning it all and these playoffs should be a treat to watch. I will certainly be rooting for the Rays throughout the playoffs and hopefully the fans come out and support their team. It would be a shame to see them playing the Red Sox in the post season and having the Boston fans outnumber the Rays fans.
C.C. Sabathia: Sabathia has been great this season for the Brewers but yesterday there was some controversy involved with his greatness. Sabathia was pitching a no-hitter when he made what appeared to be an error by dropping a little dribbler that was to the third base side of the mound. However, the score keeper in Pittsburgh scored it as a hit and it would up being the only hit that Sabathia would give up in the game. The Brewers have sent tapes to MLB and are trying to get the call reversed so it's possible that Sabathia may still get a no-hitter, which would be one of the most bizarre no-hitter's ever. Sabathia wouldn't even get a chance to celebrate it, so it's almost anti-climatic. Check out the video below for the Brewers reaction and the play itself:
Other MLB News:
- The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired David Eckstein from the Blue Jays for minor league pitcher Mike Beck. I would imagine Eckstein will get the majority of the playing time at 2B with Orlando Hudson out for the rest of the season.
- The Blue Jays also traded Matt Stairs to the Phillies and called up minor league prospect Travis Snider. Snider is their best positional prospect and will get a long look the rest of the season to see if he is ready to be a full time player in 2009.
- The Angles placed Howie Kendrick on the 15-day DL with tightness in his left hamstring. In his place, they have called up minor league prospect Brandon Wood, who was mashing the ball in the minors: .296 with 31 homers and 84 RBI
- The Red Sox acquired Mark Kotsay to help them out in the outfield while J.D. Drew is on the disabled list. Kotsay joints an outfield that already includes Jason Bay, Coco Crisp, and Jacoby Ellsbury.
More: MLB & MLB Weekly
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