Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Ugly, ugly ball...
Well, America's greatest heroes are only 5 and 7 out of the gate. Should have been 6 and 6 but new closer Billy Wagner had some jitters early on. The Homers may need to scour the waiver wire for a proven closer like Jose Mesa or Jeff Shaw if this continues. The press is livid over the starting of Edwin Encarnacion over proven star Scott Rolen to start the season. Encarnacion had an incredible spring and Rolen's shoulder was worrisome. But 5 errors in 11 games from Encarnacion (combined with 4 errors from Rickie Weeks and an incredible 3 errors from Gold Glover Jim Edmonds!) and a hotter start by Rolen has the veteran back at the hot corner.
In all, the Homers, who have had some of the best defense in league history lately, have had 17 errors in 12 games. While the team still had the slick-fielding Rolen to step back in over the unsteady Encarnacion at third, there is no longer the veteran presence and steady glovework of Placido Polanco over Weeks at second. Polanco, along with power-hitting Todd Walker, combined for great work at the keystone for the Homers in past years. But in 2006, the wisdom of the front-office was that it was the beginning of The Weeks Era at the Homerdome. With only 3 rbi on the season so far for the rookie, fans can only hope it won't be the beginning of The Weak Up-The-Middle Era.
Over in the AL, the Burninators have let a 26-home run power surge in 12 games lead them to an 8-4 record, despite rough work from the starting pitching so far. This despite newly-acquired Polanco's and Johnny Gomes's attempts at running the team out of innings with 0 stolen bases and 7 caught stealings so far between them! Way to pick your spots, guys! The only successful stolen base so far has come from backup Jeremy Reed.
And speaking of backups, this team desperately needs Julio Lugo to get off the disabled list. With Jason Bartlett not making the cut out of spring training and Alex Gonzalez doing his best Rafael Santana impression, the team needs Lugo's steady glove, good speed, and occassional pop at the bottom of the lineup.
How's that big trade looking so far?
Young,Mi .294 .431 .333
Ramirez,Ma .167 .167 .308
Anderson,Ga .229 .396 .269
Schilling,Cu 2-1 1.96
Young Guns 4-8
Guerrero,Vl .453 .623 .473
Sizemore,Gr .300 .360 .315
Beckett,Jo 3-0 0.78
Cursed Bambinos 8-4
Live and learn, I guess...
Well, America's greatest heroes are only 5 and 7 out of the gate. Should have been 6 and 6 but new closer Billy Wagner had some jitters early on. The Homers may need to scour the waiver wire for a proven closer like Jose Mesa or Jeff Shaw if this continues. The press is livid over the starting of Edwin Encarnacion over proven star Scott Rolen to start the season. Encarnacion had an incredible spring and Rolen's shoulder was worrisome. But 5 errors in 11 games from Encarnacion (combined with 4 errors from Rickie Weeks and an incredible 3 errors from Gold Glover Jim Edmonds!) and a hotter start by Rolen has the veteran back at the hot corner.
In all, the Homers, who have had some of the best defense in league history lately, have had 17 errors in 12 games. While the team still had the slick-fielding Rolen to step back in over the unsteady Encarnacion at third, there is no longer the veteran presence and steady glovework of Placido Polanco over Weeks at second. Polanco, along with power-hitting Todd Walker, combined for great work at the keystone for the Homers in past years. But in 2006, the wisdom of the front-office was that it was the beginning of The Weeks Era at the Homerdome. With only 3 rbi on the season so far for the rookie, fans can only hope it won't be the beginning of The Weak Up-The-Middle Era.
Over in the AL, the Burninators have let a 26-home run power surge in 12 games lead them to an 8-4 record, despite rough work from the starting pitching so far. This despite newly-acquired Polanco's and Johnny Gomes's attempts at running the team out of innings with 0 stolen bases and 7 caught stealings so far between them! Way to pick your spots, guys! The only successful stolen base so far has come from backup Jeremy Reed.
And speaking of backups, this team desperately needs Julio Lugo to get off the disabled list. With Jason Bartlett not making the cut out of spring training and Alex Gonzalez doing his best Rafael Santana impression, the team needs Lugo's steady glove, good speed, and occassional pop at the bottom of the lineup.
How's that big trade looking so far?
Young,Mi .294 .431 .333
Ramirez,Ma .167 .167 .308
Anderson,Ga .229 .396 .269
Schilling,Cu 2-1 1.96
Young Guns 4-8
Guerrero,Vl .453 .623 .473
Sizemore,Gr .300 .360 .315
Beckett,Jo 3-0 0.78
Cursed Bambinos 8-4
Live and learn, I guess...
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