Blue Jays break fast, Rays don’t, and Greinke is simply amazing
Published on: 9th May, 2009
Blue Jays break fast, Rays don’t, and Greinke is simply amazing | Related News
Just over four weeks into the season, here’s my list of eye-openers, for both good and bad reasons.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
To many the American League East stacked up on paper as a three-team race with Boston, New York, and Tampa Bay vying for supremacy. But it’s been Toronto which has been supreme so far. Heading into the second weekend in May, the Blue Jays had the most wins in the American League (20), and were a game up on the Red Sox for first place in the division.
The biggest factor in the team’s early-season success has been the leadership of manager Cito Gaston, who has the club focused on proving it can play with the trio of heavyweights it is supposed to take a back seat to in 2009. This is Gaston’s second stint as Toronto’s manager, and all he did in his first term in the dugout was win a couple of world championships. I love the move to bring him back, and Blue Jay fans are starting to feel the same way.
ZACH GREINKE
By now even the most casual of baseball fans has heard of the young right-hander. He was dominant in April, going 5-0 with a 0.50 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 36 innings. He allowed only two earned runs, had two complete games, and became only the fifth pitcher since 1912 to post a 5-0 first month while owning an ERA under 1.00. And then he began May by improving to 6-0 with a 3-0, six-hit, shutout against the White Sox.
I saw this coming a couple of years ago as Greinke has a great arm. He was held back by a social anxiety disorder, but he’s over that, and is now putting it all together. His control is excellent, and he throws an explosive fastball, along with a very good breaking ball and a tremendous changeup. He works both sides of the plate, and is not adverse to coming inside on hitters. He’s pivotal to the Royals making a run at the AL Central crown, and anything less than 20 wins from him would be a major disappointment.
TAMPA BAY RAYS
A slow start and a sub-.500 first month for the defending American League champions, who probably got caught up in still celebrating last season. This is a new season, and the Rays now know they have to put last year behind them. Once manager Joe Maddon gets his players refocused, the Rays should be fine.
The Rays have a very good starting staff of Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine, and Jeff Niemann. A key will be keeping veteran closer Troy Percival healthy. But with all its young talented position players, Tampa Bay won’t have another sub-.500 month this season, and it will have a big say in deciding who wins the AL East. The hangover from last year lasts a month, that’s all.
DAVID ORTIZ
Stunningly poor offensive numbers from Ortiz through his first 28 games. He batted just .229, did not hit a home run, and had just 10 extra base hits, and 14 runs batted in. While Big Papi is gnashing his teeth over his struggles, I look for him to come out of his opening-month slump.
It appears his timing is off. The Red Sox are hoping he gets his stroke going and making some adjustments is key for him since I still feel he’s got plenty of pop left in his bat. Also, keep in mind Ortiz is coming off wrist surgery and the rehab may be going slower for him than he’s willing to publicly admit. In a sense, one can understand the reason to worry about Ortiz on the part of the Boston fans, but he’ll likely be his old self before too long. Once Ortiz starts driving the ball the other way, then his swing comes around. Keep an eye out for that.
CC SABATHIA
The early returns from an arm the Yankees deemed was worth $161 million over seven years probably have the team’s bean counters ready to walk the plank. In Sabathia’s first six starts, he went 1-3 with a 4.84 ERA, walking 15 in 39 innings. But the Yankee brass isn’t yet shaking its collective head and wondering if it made a bad signing. Sabathia’s track record is reason to believe he’ll come around soon.
With such a huge contract, he’s probably putting too much pressure on himself. He’s probably been swallowed up by the hype over his arrival in New York, and likely he’s got too many things going through his head when he’s pitching. Once he settles down, and gets comfortable with his new team, he should be fine and not get detoured from putting together another dominant season.
KEVIN YOUKILIS
Big, bad Youk. Who needs Manny Ramirez (especially minus 50 games) when Youkilis is giving David Ortiz all the protection he needs in the lineup? Through his first 25 games, Youkilis hit .393 with a .719 slugging percentage, and a .505 on base percentage. Who could have predicted those kinds of awesome numbers for Youkilis?
When Youkilis first came to the big leagues, I wasn’t the only one that saw him as a utility player. Now he’s become so much more than that because he can flat out hit. He’s a focused and smart hitter, who has a very good eye, and uses the whole field. And defensively, he’s near flawless with a super solid glove at first base.
msnbc.com
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