Tagged: Halladay
EJ’s Award Predictions
For the three awards…
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8879/predictionssofar.png
Now, allow me to explain, because I’ve made some interesting choices here.
AL MVP – Alex Rodriguez – A-Rod is baaaaack… after recovering from an injury, answering most criticisms from New York fans with a stellar postseason, winning a World Series and having another 30 home run/100 RBI season in ’09, all signs lead to Alex Rodriguez coming back and hammering the baseball, perhaps not as well as he did in ’07, but certainly quite close.
NL MVP – Albert Pujols – I really don’t need to explain this choice. Last year, I picked David Wright of the Mets to win the NL MVP, and was promptly slapped in the face by Albert Pujols. He’s had back-to-back MVP’s and I don’t think there’s heavy enough competition to stop him from another one. I don’t know why I’d ever doubt the man. He’s from Santo Domingo.
AL Cy Young – Jake Peavy – Now here’s gonna be my bold prediction. Jake Peavy has a much better lineup than he had in San Diego here with the ChiSox, he’s coming back from injuries, and he’s facing a league that pretty much hasn’t seen him very often. There won’t be many things expected of the former NL Cy Young winner, and I’d expect him to be eager to thrust himself back on the scene as an ace pitcher. Peavy is still 28 years old, in the prime of his career, with sharp stuff. And by the way, if you’re doubting Jake Peavy can hurl the ball as well in the American League in a hitter’s park in U.S. Cellular, consider the 3-0 record, 1.35 ERA(344 ERA+) and .850 WHIP that Peavster had towards the end of ’09 in his brief return with the White Sox. Now consider that he’s pitching in the American League Central, facing such devastatingly tough lineups like the Minnesota Twins’ and Kansas City Royals’ and GOLLY GEE WILLIKERS them Indians are tough, huh? No, not really. He’s back, folks.
NL Cy Young – Roy Halladay – Doc, Doc. Easily one of the best pitchers in the game, quite arguably the best due to his consistency, stuff, mentality and command. This guy is a beast, and he’s going to have a beastly year in a league that really hasn’t seen too much of him. This was a very tough decision for me, because Tim Lincecum’s won the past two National League Cy Young awards, but it’s just so hard for me to speak of a threepeat for anyone but Pujols. I think Halladay is going to dominate, rack up 20 wins, and that’ll be just too much for any voter to deny. Maybe Lincecum will be deserving, but I think Halladay comes away with it.
AL Rookie of the Year – Neftali Feliz – Feliz will make the Rangers very, very Feliz.
I’m sorry, I had to.
But honestly, how can you deny a guy like Feliz who came up to Texas and promptly struck out batter after batter with high octane stuff? He’s a rookie this year with some seasoning from last year and is going to give American League batters more fits and nightmares than any Final Destination movie could.
NL Rookie of the Year – Madison Bumgarner – San Fran’s number 5 rotation spot is his to lose, literally, and with stuff, command and poise like his he’ll easily be able to do well against weak NL West lineups. Bumgarner is a solid pitcher, and while he’s not going to instantly make the impact he’s capable of in my opinion, he’ll certainly be sharp in his rookie campaign and come away with the big trophy.
I just can’t wait to be wrong.
Stay positive, Yankee fans.
-EJ the Kid from New York
EJ Busts a Rap
Yo!
I bust a phat rap cause I’m a fat cat–okay, I’m not saying that. …I’m just, I refuse to say that. Let’s try this again. 1… 2… 3…
Yo,
The Yankees beat the Blue Jays and upset the Doc
Longoria in Tampa gave the Red Sox a shock
We got some breathing room when Evan hit one out
A walk-off blast to left made the Red Sox pout
1 and a half games is a nice improvement
Than the half game of work room we were usin’
Andy Pettitte scuffled at the end but
He got a W for the pinstriped men
Damon and Tex went back to back
The main component of New York’s offensive attack
Matsui gave us breathing room by drilling one to center
And when Mo got the final out I sang like Eddie Vedder
I guess, it’s just, a day in the life
Of a Yanks fan when the AL East is alright
It’s tight, the feeling of being in first place
Now if only we could win one on Virginia’s birt–no. I’m not saying that…
You don’t get that oppurtunity in baseball’s rat race
Meanwhile, the Mets’ Castillo made us scratch our noggins
He got more NY headlines than Igawa’s joggin’
When he took a fall and sprained his ankle
You look at that and it’s only a sample
Of the sheer bad luck the Mets have come across
Every day there’s an injury another player lost
So nowadays baseball fans wonder “Who’s next?”
Well today Niese is the newest victim of the hex
Yeah… that’s it… no more rapping…
The Song of the Day is a very touching, sensitive war-themed song and I think you all should hear it, it’s not a heavy rock song or a catchy rap song, it’s an acoustic song by a band I really like. The song is called Hero of War by Rise Against…
Stay positive, Yankee fans.
-EJ the Kid From New York
Mariano Gets 500: Yanks Get Sweep
What a great win, huh? After the first inning, it looked like we were never going to score again, as Livan Hernandez was, for some reason, shutting us down. But Chien-Ming Wang turned in a decent outing and the bullpen was lights out from there. It’s nice when you can take your starter out in the 6th inning and still have 5 relievers(Coke, Hughes, Bruney, Aceves and Robertson are all very fine relief pitchers) whom you can use to set up Mariano Rivera. I’m sure Girardi feels very comfortable with his bullpen right now.
However, we could use a complete game soon, because you don’t want to use your bullpen everyday. Those guys have really earned a rest out there in the ‘pen. Now, Joba Chamberlain is starting next game against the Mariners, so it’s quite unlikely that he’s going to pitch a complete game. And hey, since we have an off day today, that should be enough for the ‘pen for now. But I don’t like that we use them every day. I’d like to see Joba pitch a complete game, obviously, since he is capable of doing so. Let’s face it, though, the only way Chamberlain’s going to pitch a full game is if it’s a no hitter. And even then, there are doubts.
Mariano got the 500th save of his career in the most extraordinary way: with his first career RBI. I mean, if Mo was going to drive in a run, you would think it’d be of the home run or double variety. That dude can swing it! But, Francisco Rodriguez, clearly screwed up by Rivera fouling a ball off, attempted to blow a fastball by Mo, and missed with two balls to walk him. That’s just pure embarrassment, right there.
So now it’s time to have a little off topic fun: before this season, in the month of February, I gave predictions on the awards and league leaders of the American and National Leagues. Today, with a day off, I’m going to look back at those predictions and, with the information that we have thus far as we head towards the All Star break, realize how dumb and wrong I am.
Okay.
So…
Cy Youngs: Oswalt and Halladay
I wanted to get funky with the Roy and Roy thing, and I’ll tell you what, one of those predictions was pretty good. Who’d have thought Zack Greinke would be as dominant as he is this year? Oswalt, on the other hand… quite past his prime, definitely, but again, who could’ve seen Matt Cain be this dominant? Dan Haren, arguably, is better this season, and you could’ve seen Haren coming, but even with that, Oswalt was a dumb prediction.
MVPs: Miguel Cabrera and David Wright
Miguel Cabrera was a strong prediction, you have to admit, but Joe Mauer has been out of his mind since he made his season debut in May. He’s just been off the charts. Now, Miguel Cabrera’s had a very good season, too, and he does have a shot at making me right if he continues his Miggy Cabrera season and Mauer cools off, but the Wright prediction was not all too sound. Sure, Wright is leading the NL in hitting, but how could I have possibly picked someone other than Pujols?
You guys look at the rest and tell me how good my predictions were.
Thanks to Vanessa for hosting the game last night, it was real fun.
Stay positive, Yankee fans…
-EJ the Kid From New York
The Best 5 Starting Pitchers of 2009: And My Addiction
Hi!
So today is a day off for about freaking everybody, so what a fantastic oppurtunity to recap the season’s best 5 starting pitchers thus far? This is something I’ve kind of wanted to do for a while. so now I got the oppurtunity. I already gave my thoughts on yesterday’s game, so there’s no need to discuss that now.
But before I get to what would be the year’s best starting rotation in the MLB, I have to tell you, I am addicted to something. No, it’s not the addiction to baseball that I’ve had since ’07. In fact, it’s the addiction to a musical artist that I get about every now and then. It seems like I’m always addicted to a band or artist or rapper every day. Well, right now– and I’ve had this addiction for a few weeks now– I am addicted to Breaking Benjamin.
There’s only one or two song by these guys that I don’t like. I have their 2006, most recent album, Phobia, and I have 3 songs from Saturate and only one song from We Are Not Alone. I love Ben Burnley, their lead singer, I love their music, they’re a fantastic band. Not really the kind of band Julia would like, but still.
I’ll leave 3 Breaking Benjamin songs you should check out at the bottom.
Onto the matter at hand; ladies and gentlemen, the best 5 starting pitchers based on 2009 statistics. Obviously these numbers will go down and we’ll see things even out as the season advances, I’m just going to show you who’s been the best so far. Let’s be clear on that. This is not the best in the game, this is the best in 2009.
5. Matt Cain (SFG): 9-1, 2.39 ERA, 86.2 INN, 68 SO
Matt Cain has been dominant all year, save for a few rusty outings. He’s put up a 2.39 to go along with his 9-1 record in 86.2 innings. He’s been perhaps the biggest reason that the Giants have been 34-28 this season, as he’s truly been one of the best pitchers in the game this season.
4. Dan Haren (ARZ) 5-4, 2.20 ERA, 94 INN, 90 SO, 13 BB
Daniel John Haren has been known for his strong fastball, his great splitter, and his solid command. This year, although he’s been unable to get solid run support, he has lived up to his great reputation and pitched like an ace, even in the abscence of sinker balling ace Brandon Webb. Haren is really one of the guys you can point to when people want to use record as a highly important stat in comparing players; sometimes your team just can’t back you up.
3. Jered Weaver (LAA) 7-2, 2.08 ERA, 90.2 INN, 74 SO, 1.00 WHIP
Here you have another guy who the baseball world hasn’t really payed attention to, but Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim has really been sick this season. You can see the numbers up there, and you can check out his other numbers this season. He doesn’t have fantastic stuff, but he locates and he makes his pitches and he’s able to retire hitters without a 100 mph heater or a gigantic breaking ball.
2. Roy Halladay (TOR) 10-1, 2.53 ERA, 103 INN, 88 SO, 12 BB
Do I really have to explain this one?
1. Zack Greinke, 8-2, 1.72 ERA, 94.1 INN, 97 SO, 5 CG, 0.99 WHIP
If you don’t agree that Zack Greinke has clearly been the best pitcher this season, you’re too blinded by the bias that you have for Roy Halladay. I don’t care what his record is– 8-2 is actually really good when you’re not comparing it to other guys– when you look at that ERA and all those other numbers, Greinke is definitely dominating most of his opponents, and he has since the beginning of the year.
Alright, so here are some Breaking Benjamin songs before I go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC-jnqGH-sI – Break My Fall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IvhNqA9BVk – Polyamorous
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKKpd5piitc – Until the End
Listen and enjoy, rock fans…
Stay positive, Yankee fans…
-EJ the Kid From New York
The Squad 
