MLB Thu, Jul 28, 2005
MLB: Top five post All-Star moneymakers
Brian Covert
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Who is the team that has won backers the most money through the first quarter of the season’s second half? Surprise, it`s the Tampa Bay Devil Rays who are up 7.70 units since mid-July.
"We’ve had just enough hitting, good pitching, good defense and good intensity. After the break, we`ve picked it up," manager Lou Piniella told mlb.com.
The Devil Rays have made money by competing with their AL East foes. In 13 games since the break they have swept the Baltimore Orioles, taken three of four against the Toronto Blue Jays, and won two games against the Boston Red Sox. For the season the D-Rays are only four games below .500 against AL East opponents, despite being 30 games below .500 overall.
The D-Rays have had their most success against the New York Yankees at 7-3 this season, good for 11.49 units in supporters’ pockets. They have nine games left against their New York rivals. They are 13-21 against the other three AL East teams.
Tampa Bay has played tough at Tropicana Field as well, going 24-28 (only three of the wins were against the Yankees). They are up 2.63 units at home while they are down 13.53 units on the road.
Oakland A’s
To make money you have to win and that is all the Oakland A’s have done since the All-Star break. The A’s have gone 11-3 since the Midsummer Classic and backers are up 7.68 units.
The A’s seem to be winning in every way conceivable, blowing teams out, winning by one run in extra innings or something in between. They have scored the 82 runs, the most in baseball, since the break and they have the third lowest ERA.
“You try to stay on that even keel,” A’s manager Ken Macha told the Willits News. "Everybody was dumb in May, and now everyone`s a genius. Forget that. I`m staying right here. That`s the way you try to treat it.”
There are concerns regarding the A’s, however. No team can stay this hot forever and as with any young pitching staff there are worries their young arms won’t be able to maintain their strength for the entire season.
“Hopefully, we can ride this streak out as long as we possibly can. ... It`s just a matter of how long we`re going to stay this hot," says Macha.
Kansas City Royals
It’s a beautiful thing when a perennial underdog goes on a little run and buffers their supporters pockets with a little bit of summer cash. That’s what the Kansas City Royals have done of late. The Royals are 8-5 since the break and are up 7.48 units.
However, the Royals`current run of good baseball began before the break. Kansas City has not lost a series in six straight tries and the streak has profited backers to the tune of 9.73 units.
"We`ve had a little more energy and played cleaner baseball. We are not giving extra outs or going away from our game plan. We are not just going out there. We have a purpose. We have a plan," catcher John Buck told the Kansas City Star..
Like the Devil Rays, the Royals have been a much better team at home. They are up 2.75 units in Kansas City while down 5.20 units overall.
Houston Astros
They say everything is bigger in Texas and that holds true for Astros’ backers bank accounts since the All-Star break.
The Houston Astros have gone 10-4 since the break and they`re 9-1 in their last 10 overall. Houston is up 6.68 units during the streak.
Houston is led by one of the best starting pitching staffs in all of baseball, a great mix of young lively arms and veteran experience. They have an unreal 1.85 ERA since July 14 and are holding batters to a measly .209 batting average.
Astros manager Phil Garner doesn’t foresee his pitching slowing down either.
“You’ve got to have good pitching, there no question,” said Garner. “You don’t always outscore your opposition. You’ve got to hold them down and eke out a run. Our pitching will probably lead the rest of the way."
Houston`s hitting has picked up too. They have scored 74 runs and are batting .280 since the break after only hitting .253 during the first half. As well, owner Drayton McClane is not afraid to go out and get a bat at the trading deadline if he thinks his team needs one.
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds used the long ball and a friendly homestand to reward their supporters through the first 13 games of the second half. Cincy has gone 8-5, 7-1 at home, and is up 3.83 units. The Reds have averaged just under six runs.
"I think our lineup, with the players we have, you can almost hit them anywhere you want to in the order," manager Jerry Narron said. "If they`re hot, we`re going to score some runs."
Don’t expect the money boom to last however. Hitters Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns and Ken Griffey Jr. have all been mentioned in trade rumors. More importantly the Reds have only 25 games remaining at Great American Ball Park, with nearly half of those games coming against quality opponents in the St. Louis Cardinals, the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. Cincinnati is up 6.95 units at home this season while overall they are down 10.92.
MLB: Top five post All-Star moneymakers
Brian Covert
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Who is the team that has won backers the most money through the first quarter of the season’s second half? Surprise, it`s the Tampa Bay Devil Rays who are up 7.70 units since mid-July.
"We’ve had just enough hitting, good pitching, good defense and good intensity. After the break, we`ve picked it up," manager Lou Piniella told mlb.com.
The Devil Rays have made money by competing with their AL East foes. In 13 games since the break they have swept the Baltimore Orioles, taken three of four against the Toronto Blue Jays, and won two games against the Boston Red Sox. For the season the D-Rays are only four games below .500 against AL East opponents, despite being 30 games below .500 overall.
The D-Rays have had their most success against the New York Yankees at 7-3 this season, good for 11.49 units in supporters’ pockets. They have nine games left against their New York rivals. They are 13-21 against the other three AL East teams.
Tampa Bay has played tough at Tropicana Field as well, going 24-28 (only three of the wins were against the Yankees). They are up 2.63 units at home while they are down 13.53 units on the road.
Oakland A’s
To make money you have to win and that is all the Oakland A’s have done since the All-Star break. The A’s have gone 11-3 since the Midsummer Classic and backers are up 7.68 units.
The A’s seem to be winning in every way conceivable, blowing teams out, winning by one run in extra innings or something in between. They have scored the 82 runs, the most in baseball, since the break and they have the third lowest ERA.
“You try to stay on that even keel,” A’s manager Ken Macha told the Willits News. "Everybody was dumb in May, and now everyone`s a genius. Forget that. I`m staying right here. That`s the way you try to treat it.”
There are concerns regarding the A’s, however. No team can stay this hot forever and as with any young pitching staff there are worries their young arms won’t be able to maintain their strength for the entire season.
“Hopefully, we can ride this streak out as long as we possibly can. ... It`s just a matter of how long we`re going to stay this hot," says Macha.
Kansas City Royals
It’s a beautiful thing when a perennial underdog goes on a little run and buffers their supporters pockets with a little bit of summer cash. That’s what the Kansas City Royals have done of late. The Royals are 8-5 since the break and are up 7.48 units.
However, the Royals`current run of good baseball began before the break. Kansas City has not lost a series in six straight tries and the streak has profited backers to the tune of 9.73 units.
"We`ve had a little more energy and played cleaner baseball. We are not giving extra outs or going away from our game plan. We are not just going out there. We have a purpose. We have a plan," catcher John Buck told the Kansas City Star..
Like the Devil Rays, the Royals have been a much better team at home. They are up 2.75 units in Kansas City while down 5.20 units overall.
Houston Astros
They say everything is bigger in Texas and that holds true for Astros’ backers bank accounts since the All-Star break.
The Houston Astros have gone 10-4 since the break and they`re 9-1 in their last 10 overall. Houston is up 6.68 units during the streak.
Houston is led by one of the best starting pitching staffs in all of baseball, a great mix of young lively arms and veteran experience. They have an unreal 1.85 ERA since July 14 and are holding batters to a measly .209 batting average.
Astros manager Phil Garner doesn’t foresee his pitching slowing down either.
“You’ve got to have good pitching, there no question,” said Garner. “You don’t always outscore your opposition. You’ve got to hold them down and eke out a run. Our pitching will probably lead the rest of the way."
Houston`s hitting has picked up too. They have scored 74 runs and are batting .280 since the break after only hitting .253 during the first half. As well, owner Drayton McClane is not afraid to go out and get a bat at the trading deadline if he thinks his team needs one.
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds used the long ball and a friendly homestand to reward their supporters through the first 13 games of the second half. Cincy has gone 8-5, 7-1 at home, and is up 3.83 units. The Reds have averaged just under six runs.
"I think our lineup, with the players we have, you can almost hit them anywhere you want to in the order," manager Jerry Narron said. "If they`re hot, we`re going to score some runs."
Don’t expect the money boom to last however. Hitters Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns and Ken Griffey Jr. have all been mentioned in trade rumors. More importantly the Reds have only 25 games remaining at Great American Ball Park, with nearly half of those games coming against quality opponents in the St. Louis Cardinals, the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. Cincinnati is up 6.95 units at home this season while overall they are down 10.92.
