Like most baseball seasons, 2008 has provided fans with some surprise teams. Unlike most seasons, there are several surprise teams. And even less likely, the Rays are one of the surprise teams. Apparently God has guided their bats, gloves, and arms justly after they broke off their deal with the Devil.
They currently have the best record in baseball. Their record is a little misleading, however, in that they are outperforming their runs scored/runs allowed expectation. On the other hand, they also are doing it with the second smallest payroll in baseball and with a rather precocious roster. They aren’t hitting particularly well (14th in team OPS), but are passable. Carlos Pena (of leading the world in Isolated Power fame) and B.J. Upton aren’t hitting quite to their potential, but will come around. Their pitching has vastly improved since the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull-esque disaster that was their staff last year. They are currently 5th in OPS against and 6th in team WHIP. There are a few caveats, by the name of Edwin Jackson and Scott Kazmir, both of whom walk way to many people, and
The Allen Iverson “Do They Keep It Real?” Survey—Prediction: Affirmative, Sir
Leave it to Billy Beane to put out a team that is tied for the second best Pythagorean record in baseball during a “rebuilding” year. They don’t look particularly good in the hitting department (22nd in team OPS), though they have had several underperformers (Barton, Buck, Cust, Ellis, Suzuki, Thomas). In honor of Joe Morgan, they are getting “true clutch” hitting—in other words, lucking out and scoring more runs than they should be. This will almost certainly not continue, but maybe the slumping hitters won’t not be not slumping not no longer (i.e. they’ll turn it right round, baby right round. Like a record baby, right round, right round). The Oakland A for Anonymous’s are pretty average at fielding right now, since Jack Cust, like Jeremy Giambi and Jose Canseco before him, doesn’t belong in the field. As soon as Eric Chavez’s DL time is up, and they bring up Carlos Gonzalez to play center, the defense should improve. The primary reason they are having a frickin’ heck of a rebuilding year is that their pitching is otherworldly right now. They are first in baseball in team ERA (by a lot), team OPS against (by a lot), and team WHIP. Country Joe Blanton continues to pitch with poise; Rich Harden is healthy and striking out 50 batters per pitch (almost); The Duke Duchscherer has taken his rotation spot by The Day After Tomorrow-caliber storm; Greg Smith and Dana Eveland have followed suit with their minor league careers; and the bullpen, with the likes of Streeter, Foulke, Casilla/Brown (when they’rent hurtified), Devine, Braden and recently Gaudin, has got dis shit on lock, boyeee. Like the Rays, their farm system is looking stocked since last year’s draft and the myriad offseason trades.
The Allen Iverson “Do They Keep It Real?” Survey—Prediction: A Resounding Aye, Captain
Everyone in the world knows about Hanley Ramirez and his ridiculous talent by now. Not everyone knows that they have one of this year’s best hitters in Dan Uggla (third in VORP in all baseball). Those two have been instrumental in making the Marlins the best slugging team in all of baseball. The issue is that they are pretty poor at the ever-important on-base percentage (26th in team walks). Couple that with the histories of most of their hitters (except Hermida, who will improve); they should be scoring fewer and fewer runs per game as the season goes on. What pitching they have, so far, looks like a mirage. Olsen has been supremely lucky (.236 BABIP) and so has Renyel Pinto, one of the better (luckier) bullpen arms so far. Andrew Miller is very talented, but also very wild. On the whole, their pitching is far too poor to keep them atop the standings for the rest of the season. As for that other aspect of the game, fielding, they don’t have a single everyday player that really stands out defensively. Well, I guess some of them stand out at being bad defensively. The Marlins don’t really have a lot going for them looking forward (maybe Cameron Maybin in a few years, likewise with a new stadium). Right now, they have all kinds of luck going for them, but it probably won’t last.
The Allen Iverson “Do They Keep It Real?” Survey—Prediction: That’s A Negatory, My Good Man
Most baseball fans are probably confused by how these scrubs and Albert Pujols have kept up with the overwhelmingly good Cubs so far. Future Hall of Famers Todd Wellemeyer, Ryan Ludwick, and Ryan Franklin, have all had very good years so far to compliment a few decent players (Ankiel, Glaus, Wainwright), and the usurper of Barry Bonds’ throne, Albert Pujols (.474 OBP, are you kidding me?). They undoubtedly have played very well and deserve what they’ve gotten so far (maybe one less win). But will it last? If you think Ludwick will continue to put up the 4th best EqA in baseball, and a rotation that is 80% converted relievers will keep on truckin’, then you probably need to lay off the sauce for a while. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t a bad team, but they certainly aren’t a good team. A lot of their players will fall back to Earth, while Pujols will try to collect all the balls he has hit into space. Their best prospect, Colby Rasmus, is having a rough go in AAA right now, but he has done nothing but hit in the minors. He should be a very good center fielder (Ankiel belongs in right) when they decide to give him a shot. Walt Jocketty exited stage right with the farm system relatively depleted, leaving John Mozeliak (
The Allen Iverson “Do They Keep It Real?” Survey—Prediction: Nay, Says The Jury
Today's Random Quote:
"The eyes are the groin of the head." Dwight K. Schrute (Rainn Wilson) in The (American) Office
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