MLB Week 7: April Showers Bring May Rumors?....Not Flowers! (May 20-29)

For some reason.... There are a lot of delayed games. I don't know if it's the actual rain falling from the sky....or baseball games are a lot longer due to the amount of home runs hit.

Last week interleague play started.... and it was fun to watch. I was preparing to write about it, until I found out that Monday every team reverted back to their divisional schedule. I didn't learn anything...well maybe one thing.

Since the start of interleague play, the Florida Marlins have won 111 interleague games. The most in the Major League Baseball history.

Now for a team that has been in exsistence for 12 full seasons. For some reason....they love whooping up on the American League. Especially in the world series. I might be mistaken, but they're 8-5 in world series play...with 2 world series titles. Unreal. They are a ton of teams trying to buy titles...Are they in the right league? Shouldn't they be in the American league .... to even it up a little bit...Come on 15-15... 16-14..... it's Stupid. The Divisions are out of whack.

Back to my blog---->

This week, as a stated last week, is statement week. And I know it's a long way until the All-Star break, but don't count your blessings. Teams are trying to run away in their respective divisions....(Dodgers)...Teams are trying to create streaks (Yankees/Padres).... Teams are trying to manufacture runs (Astros/Nationals/Indidans/Orioles).

Making that statement not only on the diamond but off the diamond......What could I possibly mean?

Statement week.....Means the start of trade talks.---> Mid-End of May<---- DUH! A lot of teams are asking this question......What piece can we add or subtract to make our team better?

Jake Peavy(SD/SP) to the White Sox?

Roy Oswalt(Hou/SP)
Brad Penny (BOS/SP)

Hideki Matsui(NYY)

Nick Johnson(Wash)

Adam Dunn(Wash/LF) again

Jermaine Dye(CWS)
Brad Ziegler(Oak/RP)

Just to name a few. Be prepared in the next couple of weeks for teams to make statements and deals. ----->GM's will be Brainstorming....will you be ready for the news? Don't say I didn't warn you.

"My Hot 5"
Joe Mauer(Min/C)- NO Questions Please! In 5 seasons this amazing catcher hit 55 homer runs. Yeah... Whatever... Not a good stat to talk about. Sorry, but what if I told you that he hit 11 of them in the past 26 games. I would have thought you were lying. I would be questioning myself. For some reason this guy found power. In a bottle? In his sleep? In his dreams? You can't question his work ethic. But you expect 12-14 more years of productivity. Joe Mauer has had one of the most greatest month's of anyone I have ever seen, besides A-Rod (April-May 2007).
.407, 11 Hr, 32 rbi's...... through 26 games. Com'Mon! Really.

2. Raul Ibanez (Phi/LF)- I just don't get it. 4 homer runs, 11 rbi's...one week. 21 and 22 year old's dream of those numbers. Not 36 year old's. He's 1st in runs scored, 1st in rbi's, 1st in slugging and 2nd in home runs. There's no way he's getting the triple-crown for the year, but by the All-Star break...he should be the toast of the town. 2009 stats: .344 ba, 17 hr's, 36 rbi's. NUTS!

3. Adam Dunn(Was/LF)- Why do all the big bats play in left field? Have you noticed? Ridiculous isn't it. I have been hyping this guy up for a while. He will be a Hall-Of Famer. His power is astonishing. Through 8 years he's approaching 300 hundred home runs. I assuming he will play 8 more. It's like he golfs the ball out the ball park. I have no clue why this 8 million dollar man has been bouncing around in his career. They keep signing this guy to one year contracts. He hits 40 home runs a year! There's no doubt he will hit 40 this year. This week, 4 home runs, 9 rbi's. This season: 16 home runs and 42 rbi's. oh yeah. He's batting .283. He should be an All-Star.

4. Adrian Gonzalez(SD/1B)- As you have noticed in past blogs I love the American League, but there is no question the National League is hitting better. I honestly haven't heard from this guy much....until this year. And week-to-week he has impressed me a ton. All-Star? Yes! MVP Candidate? I hope he can keep this up. This week: 3 home runs, 4 rbi's. This season: 18 hr's, 34 rbi's, .285 ba.

5. Mark Teixeira(NYY/1B)- It's A-Rod, It's because of him...that he's seeing pitches to hit. We've seen it with Roger Maris(forever ago).------When you move up in a New York Yankees batting card lineup...Things start to happen. Batting in front of A-Rod has made his bat hot. Seriously, you can only expect great things from a 180 million dollar man.This week: 4 hr's 12 rbi's. 2009 stats: 15 hr's, 40 rbi's, .275 ba.


Who's Brewing?

Prince Fielder(Mil/1B)- From Hot to Brewing? I know that's kinda backwards. But he's the key for the Brewers to make the playoffs. Prince is 10% of the Brewers run production. Amazing stat. This week: 2 home runs, 8 rbi's. 2009 stats: 11 hr's, 45 rbi's(2nd NL), .265 ba. Also, you have to RESPECT this guy's power. 38 Walks, 1 behind Adam Dunn.

CY Young Runner-Ups
Halladay, Greinke, Santana, Billingsley ......Halladay, Greinke, Santana, Billingsley..... Halladay, Greinke, Santana, Billingsley.....
Yes They are the hottest pitchers in the MLB. Hands down. Most likely, right now, they are the top Cy Young Candidates. So this week. I finally decided to mix it up. No one forced me. But pitching is a hard job and to do it consistently is even harder. That's why you can barely get a top 5 out of me. In this segment we look at 'up and coming'.....wannabe Cy Young Balloteers. And if they stay hot they could be at least be.....................You guessed it....................... on the ballot.
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This week we are looking for a pitcher that has a decent looking record, above 6 wins, respectable earned run average, that hasn't made the blog in the past.
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National League NL Cy Young Runner-Up

Matt Cain(SF)- Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, Randy Johnson, and this guy. You would think that this rotation would win 3 out of 5 every week for the San Francisco Giants. I'm good friends with 18.5 mil. Zito on Twitter, "eventually" he will turn it on. Randy is making 8 million for his milestone(300 wins), "The Freak" Tim Lincecum is getting his feet wet. 4-1, 3.03 era, $675,000. So when you can only get a win out of these three....Maybe 2 with run production... Who do you turn to? Meet Mr. Cain.
So, I was looking for low earned run averages this week. And it was very tough... Do you see how many days it took for this blog to be produced? Very tough week for pitchers. Not this guy. Remember when I was talking about buying "wins". This 3 millon dollar man is stepping it up in that rotation at least helping out the cause....in getting 2 wins out of 4.
6-1, 2.31 era, 46 strikeouts. In his last 3 outings, 21 innings.... 2 earned runs, 14 strikeouts.
Look for him to dominate down the road. Not to Santana status.....Just watch Cain step it up and stand out to rejuvenate the rotation.

American League Cy Young Runner-Up

Mark Buehrle(CWS)- Resume: 3x All-Star(2002, 05, 06), World Series Ring(2005), No-Hitter(2007). Impressed?
Yes. Here's another Bit... Since 2001, one year after his rookie season, he has 'averaged' 15 wins.
Not one season has he not had below 10 wins and only one of those seasons has he finished below .500(2006).... but he had 12 wins. That's why he's earning 14m. this year.
He's your typical mailman... consistent deliveries.
In the past 14-innings, 2 earned runs. again. Insane!
2009 season stats: 6-1, 2.59 era, 36 strikeouts.