More surgery for Bonds
Henry Schulman is reporting that Barry Bonds has had another setback: more surgery. More reason to think that Bonds's pursuit of Henry Aaron's record is in jeopardy. Ray Ratto notes that this information did not break on Bonds's Web site, in his commentary.
Problem-solving
It's May, and the time for waiting is over. Teams around baseball are beginning to swing into in full problem-solving mode. The Red Sox are patching and plugging their leaky rotation, the Astros are praying at the altar of Lance Berkman for his good health and for improved offense, and the Yankees are (gasp!) looking to their minor-league system for answers.
When we speak of team weaknesses, we think of elements – the Cubs' bullpen, the Astros' offense. Here are the biggest concerns, among contenders:
1. San Francisco bullpen: They committed big money to Armando Benitez after trying about 162 different closers last year, and now they don't know when Benitez will pitch next and have to turn to the same group that they deemed untrustworthy last year. It's a problem that might crush them, except for one thing: They play in the NL West.
2. The Houston offense. The Astros are last in homers and 14th in runs scored, and although Berkman is due back this weekend, his return doesn't guarantee that he's going to be able to play every day, and become an impact player right away. Houston needs at least one more guy to step up in a big way, and with some alacrity; the Astros are 11-14, and six games out in the NL Central.
3. The Yankees' mojo. The primary reason that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Torre made changes now is that the team lacks adrenaline, playing without any kind of urgency. Bernie Williams probably has played his last game as a regular in center field, and there is no more playing time guaranteed for Jason Giambi; Torre will likely just play the hottest bat at DH, picking from Bernie, Ruben Sierra, and Giambi. If the promotion of Robinson Cano doesn't help, then Torre/Cashman will try other moves.
4. The White Sox's offense. Chicago ranks ninth in the AL in runs scored, and they have the best record because of Jon Garland and the other members of the rotation; the White Sox are 10-3 in one-run games. Eventually, however, they are going to need much more from Paul Konerko, etc. to sustain their incredible start.
5. The Red Sox's rotation. Can't make the playoffs with John Halama and Jeremi Gonzalez taking the ball every fifth day; the Devil Rays can testify to this. But among all the elemental problems listed here, this is the most solvable. Help is on the way, with Wade Miller expected in the big leagues soon and David Wells and Curt Schilling on the way back from the DL soon. As long as the Red Sox stay within range of the Orioles, they should be OK.
6. The Cubs' bullpen. You figure they'll trade for somebody, whether its Danys Baez or Jeremy Affeldt.
7. The Mets' bullpen. The mistake the Mets made last year, in their trade deadline deals, was to pull the trigger and swap prospects before the team was ready to contend. If the Mets can add a veteran reliever without trading youngsters, they should do it; otherwise, they should pass, and allow the young team to continue developing.
8. The A's offense. Unless Eric Chavez and Jason Kendall hit, Oakland is not going to be a contender.
Off his Rocker
Prediction: After this incident, John Rocker won't be playing in New York much longer. ... Tom Glavine was terrible Tuesday, raising questions about whether he'll ever be good again. ... As the Phillies placed Jim Thome on the DL, they summoned a top power-hitting prospect. ... Corey Patterson becomes the latest player to blow up, in a confrontation with an umpire. Says here that the Cubs have this stuff happen all the time because manager Dusty Baker does not demand accountability from the players. When the players whined about the broadcasters last year, what Baker should have done is tell them to shut up and play. What he did, instead, is whine about the broadcasters himself. ... Cubs GM Jim Hendry denies charges that the team fudged information on Mark Prior's injury last year. ... Juan Rincon challenges his steroid suspension. ... Mike Rutsey tells us how Josh Towers shut down his former team in Baltimore. ... Jason Marquis gave the Cardinals one more reason to think they can seize control of the NL Central by the end of this month, shutting down the Reds. ... Oakland continues to struggle with runners in scoring position. ... The Dodgers hold off the Nationals, as they break out of an offensive slide, but they have lost infielder Jose Valentin to a knee injury. ... John Lackey continues to improve for the Angels, striking out nine. ... The Padres finally got a strong outing from a No. 5 starter, as the Rockies lose again. Clint Hurdle is considering more changes. ... Boston's starting pitcher had his name spelled wrongly, but the Red Sox overcame that and gained a game in the standings. ... Wade Boggs toured the Hall of Fame this week, as he prepared for his induction. ... Kevin Millar believes the Yankees won't fall apart, as Nick Cafardo tells us. ... Are the Brewers the top competition for the Cardinals in the NL Central? Right now, you could make that argument. ... Paul Konerko keeps looking for answers to his early-season slump. ... The Yankees got ripped again, as Kevin Brown gets pounded. The Yankees are 11-16.
posted: May 4, 2005 7:49:25 AM PDT | Feedback
Henry Schulman is reporting that Barry Bonds has had another setback: more surgery. More reason to think that Bonds's pursuit of Henry Aaron's record is in jeopardy. Ray Ratto notes that this information did not break on Bonds's Web site, in his commentary.
Problem-solving
It's May, and the time for waiting is over. Teams around baseball are beginning to swing into in full problem-solving mode. The Red Sox are patching and plugging their leaky rotation, the Astros are praying at the altar of Lance Berkman for his good health and for improved offense, and the Yankees are (gasp!) looking to their minor-league system for answers.
When we speak of team weaknesses, we think of elements – the Cubs' bullpen, the Astros' offense. Here are the biggest concerns, among contenders:
1. San Francisco bullpen: They committed big money to Armando Benitez after trying about 162 different closers last year, and now they don't know when Benitez will pitch next and have to turn to the same group that they deemed untrustworthy last year. It's a problem that might crush them, except for one thing: They play in the NL West.
2. The Houston offense. The Astros are last in homers and 14th in runs scored, and although Berkman is due back this weekend, his return doesn't guarantee that he's going to be able to play every day, and become an impact player right away. Houston needs at least one more guy to step up in a big way, and with some alacrity; the Astros are 11-14, and six games out in the NL Central.
3. The Yankees' mojo. The primary reason that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Torre made changes now is that the team lacks adrenaline, playing without any kind of urgency. Bernie Williams probably has played his last game as a regular in center field, and there is no more playing time guaranteed for Jason Giambi; Torre will likely just play the hottest bat at DH, picking from Bernie, Ruben Sierra, and Giambi. If the promotion of Robinson Cano doesn't help, then Torre/Cashman will try other moves.
4. The White Sox's offense. Chicago ranks ninth in the AL in runs scored, and they have the best record because of Jon Garland and the other members of the rotation; the White Sox are 10-3 in one-run games. Eventually, however, they are going to need much more from Paul Konerko, etc. to sustain their incredible start.
5. The Red Sox's rotation. Can't make the playoffs with John Halama and Jeremi Gonzalez taking the ball every fifth day; the Devil Rays can testify to this. But among all the elemental problems listed here, this is the most solvable. Help is on the way, with Wade Miller expected in the big leagues soon and David Wells and Curt Schilling on the way back from the DL soon. As long as the Red Sox stay within range of the Orioles, they should be OK.
6. The Cubs' bullpen. You figure they'll trade for somebody, whether its Danys Baez or Jeremy Affeldt.
7. The Mets' bullpen. The mistake the Mets made last year, in their trade deadline deals, was to pull the trigger and swap prospects before the team was ready to contend. If the Mets can add a veteran reliever without trading youngsters, they should do it; otherwise, they should pass, and allow the young team to continue developing.
8. The A's offense. Unless Eric Chavez and Jason Kendall hit, Oakland is not going to be a contender.
Off his Rocker
Prediction: After this incident, John Rocker won't be playing in New York much longer. ... Tom Glavine was terrible Tuesday, raising questions about whether he'll ever be good again. ... As the Phillies placed Jim Thome on the DL, they summoned a top power-hitting prospect. ... Corey Patterson becomes the latest player to blow up, in a confrontation with an umpire. Says here that the Cubs have this stuff happen all the time because manager Dusty Baker does not demand accountability from the players. When the players whined about the broadcasters last year, what Baker should have done is tell them to shut up and play. What he did, instead, is whine about the broadcasters himself. ... Cubs GM Jim Hendry denies charges that the team fudged information on Mark Prior's injury last year. ... Juan Rincon challenges his steroid suspension. ... Mike Rutsey tells us how Josh Towers shut down his former team in Baltimore. ... Jason Marquis gave the Cardinals one more reason to think they can seize control of the NL Central by the end of this month, shutting down the Reds. ... Oakland continues to struggle with runners in scoring position. ... The Dodgers hold off the Nationals, as they break out of an offensive slide, but they have lost infielder Jose Valentin to a knee injury. ... John Lackey continues to improve for the Angels, striking out nine. ... The Padres finally got a strong outing from a No. 5 starter, as the Rockies lose again. Clint Hurdle is considering more changes. ... Boston's starting pitcher had his name spelled wrongly, but the Red Sox overcame that and gained a game in the standings. ... Wade Boggs toured the Hall of Fame this week, as he prepared for his induction. ... Kevin Millar believes the Yankees won't fall apart, as Nick Cafardo tells us. ... Are the Brewers the top competition for the Cardinals in the NL Central? Right now, you could make that argument. ... Paul Konerko keeps looking for answers to his early-season slump. ... The Yankees got ripped again, as Kevin Brown gets pounded. The Yankees are 11-16.
posted: May 4, 2005 7:49:25 AM PDT | Feedback
