Sportswriter for Montgomery Media
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| Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515 |
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| Yu Darvish |
Now, I know it is a difficult job and it's easy to second guess from my couch, but I think I am allowed to call out whoever I want.
So a month into the season here are my Power Rankings and the things that are making me think I need to hand my resume to somebody in baseball operations. I can do a better job than this.
1. Rangers - No more Cliff Lee, no more C.J. Wilson, so is Yu Darvish really the rookie you will call on in game one of a postseason series? Texas is talented, but needs to figure a few things out. Whose the ace of the staff and what are they doing with Josh Hamilton. I know Hamilton comes with some risk, but they better sign him before he wins MVP and walks.
2. Rays
3. Cardinals - I give props on the decision to sign Carlos Beltran and Lance Berkman a year prior because it has saved their offense, but I have my questions about their starting rotation. The magic man Dave Duncan is gone and while Wainwright may be the one struggling right now, he's the least of my worries. They are crazy if they think they can roll with Lance Lynn all season. If Chris Carpenter cannot regain his form, the Cards could be the team going in the wrong direction in September.
4. Dodgers
5. Nationals - The amount of mixed messages make me want to scream. They are a contender this season, yet their ace Stephen Strasburg has a 160 innings limit? Make up your mind. The starters have been great, but I still doubt the youngsters ability to handle the pressure of the race in the heat of summer. They are still a year or two away.
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| Freddie Freeman |
7. Yankees - Somebody didn't do their homework. Michael Pineda came to Spring Training overweight and injured while their top former prospect Jesus Montero sips Starbucks in the Northwest. Since March Joe Girardi has named seven different fifth starters. At least Derek Jeter can still hit.
8. Tigers
9.Reds - You can only get so much from value from a set-up man and right now that's all they are using the electric talents of Aroldis Chapman for. While they have a lefty-specialist closing and two struggling starters in the rotation Chapman has been lights out for one middle inning. It's time to move him to ninth or my opinion, a starter. This team could take off.
10. Brewers
11. Phillies - No more free passes for Chase Utley. You're telling me he was fine all offseason and the second he got to Clearwater he decided he won't be ready until June? Utley left the Phils in a bad spot and the offense has no idea how to play small ball. It's a waste of the three aces (Halladay, Lee, and Hamels) talents.
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| Matt Wieters |
13. Blue Jays
14. Giants - I think Bochy is one of the best managers in baseball, but he's off to a rough start this season. There are way to many players on this roster with undefined roles or jobs they cannot handle. Brandon Crawford is not the answer at shortstop, Brandon Belt does not know if he's an everyday player or on his way back to Triple A. And who knows why Tim Lincecum cannot throw strikes. At least Matt Cain has taken his game to the next level.
15. Indians
16. Diamondbacks
17. Angels - First and foremost, they have too many players that expect to play everyday. The Halos just thought with Albert Pujols hitting third in L.A. they sun would shine with rainbows every day. But Pujols has seen the pressure, Mark Trumbo does not have a position and Vernon Wells is still collecting a giant paycheck for his piss-poor performance.
18. Red Sox
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| Heath Bell |
20. White Sox - A mere two years ago the White Sox drafted Chris Sale in the first round TO BE A STARTER. Sale entered 2012 TO BE A STARTER. After five starts all of the sudden decided it's not going to work. GM Kenny Williams and rookie manager Robin Ventura make me want to hit something with the way they handled this young and talented lefty. Give a chance to start. That's why you drafted him.
21. Mets
22. Rockies
23. Royals - Everybody wanted to talk about all the great hitters coming to Kansas City this season. And while they were not over hyping Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustaskas, they completely forgot pitching wins. And in their five man rotation they are lucky to say they have 1 1/2 big league starters. Another long year in KC.
24. Astros
26. Athletics - I actually thought Billy Beane was smart and then I saw Moneyball. He has not won a thing and he should not be praised for making the playoffs. True, it's difficult to compete with their budget, but lets applaud his out-of-the-box thinking and not he on-the-field results. Some old story this year. They aren't winning anything anytime soon.
27. Cubs
28. Mariners
29. Padres
