Now 3-4, -1.21 after a 2-0 Thursday.
Tampa -1(+107). 3 units .The Rangers tried to give away those games to the Phillies, but the Phillies, and Papelbon, just look pathetic. Now the Rangers try and throw Joe Saunders out there. Saunders joined the team in the middle of spring training and you can see why he lasted so long on the free agent market. He insists on using his fastball more than is necessary and at times can nibble too much. The Rays are a smart bunch and I think they'll make him pitch toward the middle of then plate and stay away from the corners early. Odorizzi is young guy with a nice fluid motion and a bullpen that he knows can hold the win for him. He won't be expected to go deep, but the Rays bullpen is deep enough to go from the 5th on. The Rangers are a bit in flux and are VERY lucky they played the hapless Phils 1st this season. Their lineup no longer puts fear into a pitcher, and they have never been as good on the road.
LA Dodgers-1 (-132) 3 units. Don't like to give up this much juice early in the season, but Vogelsong looks done. His career was a great story, but last year you could see he was not the same. He had a dreadful spring(.371 BAA and 5 HRs, 33 hits in 19 IPs) and his mechanics seemed screwed up. His rotation spot will be gone fairly soon, I think. Ryu, meanwhile looks like he might be an ace on any other team. With Kershaw out, he might be the guy the Dodgers need to win consistently. The Dodgers actually look like they might start the season strong- vowing not to repeat last year's disastrous start.
Baltimore +153. ML. One unit. I'll repeat in summary what I wrote in Thursday's post- Anibal Sanchez has shoulder issues and this may be a glorified spring training game for him. The Tigers haven't started to hit, while the Orioles have barely been better. Still… Miguel Gonzalez and the Orioles bullpen should keep this game close. Gonzalez pitches to contact, but has the ability to pitch well to weak contact.
Chicago White Sox +133. ML- one unit. The White Sox have a lot of guys who are hitting and face Jeremy Guthrie, who got roughed up this spring. Yeah, he's a veteran, but I'm wondering if his return to the AL will be any better this time around. Erik Johnson faces a Royals' squad that is still trying to find their swing, and coming off a rain out and a heartbreaking 10th inning loss in Detroit. Johnson has a decent repertoire that has command issues. he had a good spring except for 1 game vs. LAA. The Sox bullpen will likely have to finish this game for the last 3-4 IP, and can do the job. Mainly I like the way the White Sox are swinging the bats and can see Guthrie struggling early.
Tampa -1(+107). 3 units .The Rangers tried to give away those games to the Phillies, but the Phillies, and Papelbon, just look pathetic. Now the Rangers try and throw Joe Saunders out there. Saunders joined the team in the middle of spring training and you can see why he lasted so long on the free agent market. He insists on using his fastball more than is necessary and at times can nibble too much. The Rays are a smart bunch and I think they'll make him pitch toward the middle of then plate and stay away from the corners early. Odorizzi is young guy with a nice fluid motion and a bullpen that he knows can hold the win for him. He won't be expected to go deep, but the Rays bullpen is deep enough to go from the 5th on. The Rangers are a bit in flux and are VERY lucky they played the hapless Phils 1st this season. Their lineup no longer puts fear into a pitcher, and they have never been as good on the road.
LA Dodgers-1 (-132) 3 units. Don't like to give up this much juice early in the season, but Vogelsong looks done. His career was a great story, but last year you could see he was not the same. He had a dreadful spring(.371 BAA and 5 HRs, 33 hits in 19 IPs) and his mechanics seemed screwed up. His rotation spot will be gone fairly soon, I think. Ryu, meanwhile looks like he might be an ace on any other team. With Kershaw out, he might be the guy the Dodgers need to win consistently. The Dodgers actually look like they might start the season strong- vowing not to repeat last year's disastrous start.
Baltimore +153. ML. One unit. I'll repeat in summary what I wrote in Thursday's post- Anibal Sanchez has shoulder issues and this may be a glorified spring training game for him. The Tigers haven't started to hit, while the Orioles have barely been better. Still… Miguel Gonzalez and the Orioles bullpen should keep this game close. Gonzalez pitches to contact, but has the ability to pitch well to weak contact.
Chicago White Sox +133. ML- one unit. The White Sox have a lot of guys who are hitting and face Jeremy Guthrie, who got roughed up this spring. Yeah, he's a veteran, but I'm wondering if his return to the AL will be any better this time around. Erik Johnson faces a Royals' squad that is still trying to find their swing, and coming off a rain out and a heartbreaking 10th inning loss in Detroit. Johnson has a decent repertoire that has command issues. he had a good spring except for 1 game vs. LAA. The Sox bullpen will likely have to finish this game for the last 3-4 IP, and can do the job. Mainly I like the way the White Sox are swinging the bats and can see Guthrie struggling early.
