» 2009

The Mariners have a chance to take third place in the AL West. They would need much better 3-4-5 pitching to do better. Ichiro’s ulcer is troubling, putting the first dent in his indestructible armor. Chris Jakubauskas should be pitching in the fourth SP spot, but he is in the bullpen. If Chan Ho Park can win the Five Spot with the reigning world champions, Jakubauskas’ Spring deserves a starting role on the Mariners. It would be a stronger sign of change. 

The Angels, whose pitching depth is Olympic-sized pool deep, are the team to beat. The A’s, while they added Holliday and Giambi, don’t have the kind of veteran staff that can win against L.A. 

What’s ahead for Seattle? Matt Tuiasosopo, who makes the Opening Day roster because of Ichiro’s DL trip, will have a chance to make management comfortable trading Adrian Beltre, who could bring a nice harvest of pitching. How about swapping Beltre for Roy Halladay from Toronto, who still has a couple years of contract left with the Blue Jays?

But it would have made more sense to bring Mike Wilson, who had a great Spring, up to cover for Ichiro. Ken Griffey Jr. is filling in at Right Field, which will give Mike Sweeney more at-bats as DH,  but the outfield is only one player deep at all positions, with Wladimir Balentien as the only available backup. 

By the end of the season, the M’s will look very different. Pitching changes, reshuffling and additions in the field, and a better record for the effort. It’s still just the beginning. I’ll be there for many of the home games, watching and blogging all the way. Stay tuned to MajorLeagueBlogging.com.

The Mets have a healthy Church back this year (hopefully for good!) and the outlook (in this Mets fan opinion) is very bright. Church is solid defensively, he hustles, and gets to the majority of the catchable balls hit his way. He brings a certain silent inteinsity to the Mets

Healthy and Ready for 2009!

I’d say based off last year he can hit around .300 with 20-23 homers 85 RBI. These numbers are obviously only an estimate, but one is left to wonder how he would have finished last season had he not been injured…

With Church back in the lineup the Mets will be more formidable for sure. I am truly looking forward to the 2009 season!

Coming Next…Center Field.

Well we all know about the Mets at the Shortstop position….Jose…Jose..Jose..Joseeeee!  None other than Jose Reyes. This guy is a true pleasure to watch and will continue to be this season.

Less Swipes More RBI's?

Well there’s no telling how Jose Reyes will do because he just got back from playing in WBC. While in WBC, he only was 1-9. Jose will bat third in lineup according to Jerry Manuel. Luis Castillo has had pretty good spring training so far as the leadoff hitter, there’s no telling if this something that’s going to carry over into the regular season.

Overall I will look for a better fielding year for Jose this year, and one can expect him to show off the cannon early and often. I expect a dip in Stolen Bases, and a bit of a higher average than last season. More Home runs, and RBI’s is a given (I feel).

God forbid he gets injured…There’s a couple of young guys who are in development for the backup position. There’s a youngster by the name of Wilmer Flores, who’s only 16-17 years old. Then there’s the Reese Havens who’s been seeing some playing time while Jose was playing in WBC.

Coming Up next….Right Field.

Most Valuable Papi

The one position that has remained both untouched AND stable through the years, contrary to popular belief, is NOT getting old. David Oritz has been with the Sox since 2003, and he has put up spectacular numbers every year. And unlike the only other 2004 winners still on the team—Varitek and Wakefield—he shows no signs of slowing down.

People use the same argument all the time: “he’s getting old.” Last time I checked, 34 is not old. I don’t see anybody calling 33-year-old Derek Jeter being called old, and he is in worse physical shape than Papi (in an injury and durability sense, not a matter of individual health), since he plays the field and hits while Ortiz only does the latter.

Ortiz is one of the best hitters in the game, and he has one thing on A-Rod, Bonds, Giambi, and countless others: he plays clean.

Papi’s numbers will go up to his 35+ home runs numbers from two years ago. Last year Ortiz had some injury problems and managed only a .264 average with 23 homers. A clear step down from his .332, 35 home run season of 2007. While those numbers were seen as low, who wouldn’t want their player hitting well over .300? And even with bad numbers, always remember David Ortiz+Bottom of the 9th+close game=Red Sox win.

Ortiz doesn’t need a backup in his role, but if he ever needs a break Francona can just pencil in anybody he feels like.

First, I see David Wright during spring training as I live in Port Saint Lucie. The first thing everyone needs to know is he is the first player to show up in spring, usually one of the earliest to the spring traing facility, and usually one of the guys last to leave practice.

The Wright Stuff in 2009

It all depends on where in the line up he hits. He may hit 2nd if Reyes is moved to the 3rd slot in the line up. If that is the case, you may see a decrease in RBI production and see an increase in stolen bases and runs; a season more like 2006. His home run production is very high, his highest home run total is 33, but in the two slot he still will hit closer to 30 home runs rather than seeing an increase from last year. If the two slot is where he plays, I think his stats will be as follows: 310 avg, 31hr., and 110 RBI’s with approximately 35 stolen bases.

If Wright is in the 3 slot he will have more men on base on average so his RBI chances will increase and his batting average will certainly increase. His stats then will be: 320 avg, 35 hr., and 125 RBI’s with around 15 stolen bases.

His stats really depend on how well Luis Castillo plays because he will hit lead off if they move Reyes out of the lead of spot. Or if the Mets leave Reyes in the lead off slot and they bat Daniel Murphy in the two slot as they did near the end of last season which was very productive, Wright will produce certain numbers without help but generally players have big seasons when players in front of them get on base and they are followed in the line up by big or bigger bats(Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran).

The one thing for sure is this: David Wright is only going to get better! Players generally hit their full or peak baseball ability generally around 27-30 years old.

If David Wright has a season ending injury the answer to who will replace him at third is clear. Daniel Murphy is a natural third baseman, he played 3B until mid last year and was converted to a 2b then an outfielder so he could make the big club. If David Wright wasn;t in the Mets organization, Daniel Murphy might have already been at third base. Daniel Murphy would be a starting 3B on many big league clubs right now. Ramon Martinez also has played 3b during spring training and likely will either be on the big club as a part time player or be down in triple A awaiting a call up when someone needs a day off or injuries occur. He would be a back up on third either way. Also, I think Jose Valentin has played some third base in spring training and he may be doing so as a utility player option during the season if he makes the team.

Hello All,

I have been answering emails al ot lately, I have to tell you we have some passionate visitors!

This question came up 3 times, so I’ll post it here.

Will the Phillies Repeat in 2009? In your opinion of course…

Well I love answering reader questions! So let’s go!

As a Mets fan, my answer is NO! Ok, Ok just kidding. Let’s have a fair talk here.

Repeat? Not in my opinion!

The Phillies were definately a surprise in 2008, they had the fight and the edge that brought them through all the way to the end of a very long and tough season. The Mets faltered as usual, and
there you had it, the Phillies were the champs. They phought the tough phight and won (Phillies plug haha).

This season will be very different though. Even as a Mets fan, I feel the champ will come out of the AL this year. I do not feel the Phillies will win the East again, but may sneak is as the wild card.
The talent it still there, and the heart as well, but I simply dont see a repeat coming.

Again, I would go into more details, but I want to leave the floor open to you, the reader, and you the wonderful authors here at MajorLeagueBlogging.com.

So…Let’s hear it!

In 2007 the world got a taste of the future when Jacoby Ellsbury had a spectacualr postseason. His numbers slipped a bit below expectations in 2008 while he was sharing time in center field with Coco Crisp, but with Crisp being swapped to Kansas City, Ellsbury should get the time he needs to put up great numbers in 2009.

In just one month in Red Sox Nation, Ellsbury developed a large following, similar to the one that  Boston Bruins youngster Milan Lucic developed just a month later, though I doubt anybody who doesn’t follow hockey to fully understand what that one is like. Ellsbury won over the fans with his steady bat and amazing speed. What Ellsbury brought to the Red Sox was a second—and later third—base stealer, which the Red Sox haven’t had in a while. With Crisp gone, the base stealers will be back down to just two, but throw in Pedroia’s improving speed and Bay’s great base running ability, and the speed threat looks a lot worse than just Lugo and Ellsbury.

Rocco Baldelli appears to be the backup, but his health problems bring up some questions. The only other backup on the 25-man roster is Mark Kotsay, but Francona is unusually reluctant to utilize his players’ depth. The only one else, besides Brad Wilkerson, on the 40-man roster is Jonathan Van Every, but he may not be ready, even for just a game or two.

Everyone knows the story of  how Boston’s left field took a drastic change in 2008. So instead, let’s just break down how the position is looking for 2009.

Jason Bay will be playing for a contract extension in 2009.

Jason Bay is one of the headliners of Canada’s World Baseball Classic roster, but in Boston’s powerful lineup he is just seen as another cog. But no matter how you look at him, he will contribute.

Bay proved he could contribute in the pressure of Boston and the pressure of Boston in the postseason. Him and the rest of the returning 2008 team (or to better put it, every major player) are using the disappointing Game 7 loss to Tampa as motivation for 2009.

Rocco Baldelli and Jacoby Ellsbury will most likely split time in left when Bay needs a rest, and Mark Kotsay may even see a little time there if the Sox need him late in a game.

While he is no Manny, what Bay brings to the Sox is far more valuable than what Manny brings. Bay is a good fielder, a great baserunner despite not having blazing speed, and he comes without the baggage of Manny.

Hello All,

I wanted to continue the post series on the Mets position by position outlook for 2009, and I figured I would move from Catchers right onto 1B.

So as far as I can tell it comes down to two main players:

1. Carlos Delgado

2. Nick Evans

Let’s start with Carlos Delgado.

We all know Delgado finished off quite strong last year, OK very strong. He had incredible second half and I must admit I was quickly converted into a Delgado fan closing in on August and September. We all know his defense is average AT BEST, but he is capable of making a great play once in a while.

There isn’t a Mets fan out there that would object to Delgado providing another 25 HR, 110 RBI season. Experts expect Delgado to deliver another above average season in 2009. He silenced the doubters in 2008. It is once again time for him to silence the critics.

It’s worth noting that considering Delgado’s age and injury history that we should expect a few bumps on the long road that will be the 2009 season.  But hey,  he’ll have a backup in Nick Evans, presuming Evans makes the roster.

Moving onto Nick Evans:

Nick spent last year platooning with Murphy out in left field and may start this year in Buffalo. I am sure Nick hopes that Carlos Delgado has a full season like he finished last year, but Evans will be ready, if needed to fill in for Delgado, in case he slumps or comes up injured. Evans is a natural first baseman and will definately be a capable backup/replacement if and when the time comes to do so.

So overall I am pretty comfortable with the 1B position in 2009 for the Mets. Not their greatest strength, but certainly enough (or sometimes more than enough) to get the job done.

Let’s Go Mets in 2009!

For years the opening day shortstop has been a question for the Red Sox. Since Nomar Garciaparra was traded in 2004 the Sox had a new player at that position every year except 2008. Julio Lugo is the first player to be in the lineup since ‘04 when he did it in both ‘07 and ‘08. 2009 should be the same situation, but there is a battle for that position this spring.

Julio Lugo should have a bounce back 2009 for the Red Sox.

Jed Lowrie exceeded all expectations in his rookie season of 2008 after Lugo went down with an injury. He is viewed by many as the rightful starter, but I doubt he will. Not only am I not certain if Lowrie is ready for a full big league season, but if he starts the Red Sox won’t have a backup second baseman. Lugo won’t be able to play second, and Lowrie can play all over the infield.

Since I think he will be the starter, I also think Lugo will put up some similar numbers to his days in Tampa Bay. Lowrie will also contribute off the bench, but he might get off to a slow start and also get into a mid-season slump.