The Top Ten Starting Pitchers in MLB Right Now and Paulie's Honesty

The top ten starting pitchers in the game right now. Let's go!

10.) Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
2011 stats (24 starts): 9-5, 2.31 ERA, 104 Ks, 1.09 WHIP
Many of you may be surprised to see Cueto at number ten on my list, but if you had the opportunity to watch him last year, he was truly something special. While the rest of the Reds pitching staff regressed considerably from their 2010 highs last year, Cueto was the only starter to take a step forward, and if it wasn't for a strained lat that prematurely ended his season, he could have seriously challenged Clayton Kershaw for the major-league ERA title. His injury also denied him the chance to officially qualify for a "place" among the league leaders in ERA and WHIP, as he fell just six innings shy of officially qualifying for the league title. Make no mistake about it: Cueto is Cincinnati's ace heading into this season, and if he can stay healthy and have an encore performance, he will definitely receive more recognition as one of the National League's best starting pitchers.

9.) Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
2011 stats: 11-9, 3.45 ERA, 191 Ks, 1.26 WHIP, 237.1 innings pitched
Big Chris Carpenter put together another gritty, workman-like performance for the eventual World Champion Cardinals, tossing a National League-high 237.1 innings, while anchoring the rotation in the place of Adam Wainwright, who missed the season due to Tommy John surgery. Carpenter also stepped up big when the Cards needed him most, throwing a complete-game shutout on the season's final day to get St. Louis into the playoffs, then duplicating the feat 10 days later against the Phillies in the Division Series to get them to the NLCS. He also shut down Texas' mighty offense in Game Seven of the World Series, going six strong innings, striking out five while surrendering only two runs. Carpenter will be 37 this season, and as long as he is healthy (he has made a combined 69 regular-season starts the last two seasons), he should continue to be effective.

8.) CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
2011 stats: 19-8, 3.00 ERA, 230 Ks, 1.23 WHIP, 237.1 innings pitched
The Yankees received a gritty, workman-like performance of their own from ace CC Sabathia, as he equaled Carpenter's innings output while featuring a WHIP that was 30 points lower and an ERA that was 45 points lower. Critics may accuse Sabathia looking good due to the amount of run support he gets from the Yankees, but that would be failing to see the forest for the trees, as he finished second in the AL in strikeouts and ninth in ERA. Considering that he pitches half of his games in homer-friendly Yankee Stadium, a 3.00 ERA is pretty good.

7.) Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
2011 stats: 13-14, 2.74 ERA, 220 Ks, 1.21 WHIP
Surprisingly enough, "The Freak" had a better year in 2011 than he did during the Giants' World Championship season of 2010. Lincecum lowered his ERA by 0.69 and lowered his WHIP by 65 points! As you can see by his won-loss record, he did not receive a great deal of run support from his team like he did in 2010 (when he finished with a 16-10 record in spite of his uncharacteristically high ERA), and considering that they had a bad offense two years ago, you can only imagine how bad they were in 2011. Lincecum's rapid rise to becoming one of baseball's best pitchers also enabled him to earn quite a bit from the Giants in arbitration, as he will get $18 million this year and $22 million next year, according to Baseball Reference.

6.) Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies
2011 stats: 17-8, 2.40 ERA, 238 Ks, 1.03 WHIP, 232.2 innings pitched, six shutouts
It must be nice having one of the ten best pitchers in baseball, and he is not even the best pitcher on your team! Cliff Lee returned to Philadelphia last year on a five-year, $120 million deal, and he had the kind of year Philly fans expected from him, finishing first in the NL in shutouts, second in strikeouts, third in WHIP and ERA and fourth in innings pitched. Unfortunately, he could not come through in the postseason last year, surrendering five runs in a Game Two Division Series loss against the Cardinals. Nonetheless, you can still make the argument that Lee is the best pitcher in baseball when he is on the top of his game, especially when you consider that he is also one of baseball's best control artists.

5.) James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays
2011 stats: 16-12, 2.82 ERA, 225 Ks, 1.04 WHIP, 249.1 innings pitched, 11 CGs
Shields took the term "workhorse" to an entirely new level last year, finishing second in the majors in innings while throwing the most complete games in baseball since Randy Johnson's 12 in 1999. In a stacked Rays rotation, Shields was their ace, as you could almost be assured that the bullpen would get the day off whenever he took the mound. Shields also finished third in the AL in ERA and fifth in WHIP.

4.) Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels
2011 stats: 18-8, 2.41 ERA, 198 Ks, 1.01 WHIP, 235.2 innings pitched
During the first half of 2011, you could have made the argument that Weaver was baseball's best pitcher, and if you believed that he could have won the Cy Young at that point, you would not have received much dissent from anyone. Before the All-Star Break, Weaver went 11-4 with a 1.86 ERA, 120 strikeouts and a fantastic WHIP of 0.91. Even AL All-Star manager Ron Washington gave him the nod to start for the Junior Circuit in the Mid-Summer Classic. Weaver's numbers would remain steady during the second-half, but Justin Verlander took his game to another level, leaving Weaver in the dust in the Cy Young race.

3.) Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
2011 stats: 19-6, 2.35 ERA, 220 Ks, 1.04 WHIP, 233.2 innings pitched, 8 CGs
It was just another day at the office for "Doc," finishing first in the Senior Circuit in complete games, second in ERA and innings pitched, and third in WHIP. Not much else to see here, he's still one of baseball's best.

2.) Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
2011 stats: 21-5, 2.28 ERA, 248 Ks, 0.98 WHIP, 233.1 innings pitched
Kershaw, at least for one season, unseated Halladay as the National League's best pitcher. In fact, you could make the argument that he was the best pitcher in the game last year, finishing first in the majors in ERA, second in strikeouts, and second in opponents' batting average (they hit a paltry .207 against him). He also did this while pitching for a mediocre Dodger squad, which makes his season all the more impressive. He was already one of the NL's best starters in 2010; last year simply proved that he is here to stay in that discussion.

1.) Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
2011 stats: 24-5, 2.40 ERA, 250 Ks, 0.920 WHIP, 251 innings pitched
What else is there to say about Verlander that has not been mentioned already by the media? He became the first pitcher to win a MVP award since Dennis Eckersley in 1992, the first starter to do it since Roger Clemens in 1986 and the first Tiger pitcher to do it since Willie Hernandez in 1984. He also led the majors in wins, innings, strikeouts, WHIP and opponents' batting average (.192), while finishing in a tie for third in ERA. He fell one win shy of becoming MLB's first 25-game winner since 1990, as he lost to Baltimore in his final start of the regular season. He kept the bullpen fresh as they were practically guaranteed a day off whenever he took the mound, and lets face it, Detroit would have been an average team if he was not in their rotation. He also came through big in the playoffs, as he kept the Tigers from being eliminated at home in Game Five of the ALCS, throwing 133 pitches in 7.1 innings (which kept their battered bullpen fresh), and earning a victory in the process. Let's not forget that he threw his second career no-hitter in Toronto last year as well. He is baseball's best pitcher right now, and unless you are a fan of the Dodgers, Angels or Phillies, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would disagree with that statement.

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Paulie's Honesty

While Spring Training is a refreshing and exciting time for many baseball fans, it can also be the most repetitive time of the season. I mean, we have all heard the same old storylines each spring, right? "Player 'X' reported to camp 'X' pounds lighter and is in the best shape of his life. Manager or player 'X' is optimistic regarding his team's chances and feels that he can have a career year. Every team is in first place, regardless if they stand absolutely no chance entering the season (I'm looking at you, Houston Astros)." Well, that's one particular reason why Paul Konerko's comments just two days ago were so refreshing, even though I do not entirely agree with them.

Here's what Konerko said, courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times:

“I hope I don’t throw anybody off with this, but this can be a very successful year without making the playoffs." -Paul Konerko

Considering the heightened expectations Chicago had last year, that is a surprising comment, right? Well, Konerko obviously provided more context to his comments, even using last year's Indians as an example of a team that had a "successful" season despite missing the playoffs. He essentially believes that if the Sox lay the framework for something that is sustainable (i.e. receive great production from youngsters such as Dayan Viciedo, Gordon Beckham, Addison Reed and Chris Sale, among others), they will have a better idea of where they stand in 2013, and they can build off of that. Konerko's example of the Indians personified that idea, as they surprisingly hung tough with Detroit for most of the summer before the Tigers kicked things into overdrive in September and ran away with the division.

However, here is the reason why I do not entirely agree with Konerko. Even though the Sox are fielding a few younger players entering this season, they are not a team like the Nationals, Royals, or even last year's Indians, where they are young and talented with little to no expectations. A year in which they do not make the playoffs, but finish with a winning record, would be looked upon as a successful season for those teams. The White Sox, on the other hand, still have a fairly large payroll, and high expectations for many of their key players, including, but not limited to, Adam Dunn, Alex Rios, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, and yes, even Konerko (even though he's carried the team for the last several seasons).

This is a team that is only two years removed from winning 88 games, and last year, many prognosticators expected them to win the division (myself included). How can they return most of their key players (sans Buehrle and Quentin, of course) and have such low expectations heading into this season? That is why I have such a difficult time stomaching Konerko's comments. Perhaps I am in a bit of denial, or even worse, a state of confusion as to what to expect from this year's team. I feel like a losing season, or even an 82-83 win season would be somewhat disappointing, but if they do make the playoffs, I will be completely surprised. Really, I am not certain what to expect from this year's team. I just hope that they can return to being a fun team to watch. The White Sox of 2001-2004 were not the best teams ever constructed, but they were fun to watch, only because you could tell they were giving their best effort night in and night out. The teams from 2005-2010 (2007 excluded) were simply a blast to watch, at least from this Sox fan's point of view, because they entered each season with a chance to win the division. Last year, they looked apathetic, and honestly, they were absolutely miserable to watch. Maybe I have been spoiled watching them contend for so long that I just do not want to come to terms that I might be witnessing them on the decline.


Either way, Konerko's honesty is such a refreshing thing to hear during a time where you see the same old tired lines spit out over and over again by managers, players and coaches. Hopefully, this year's team can catch people off-guard again, much like they did in 2000 and 2005.

The Top Ten First Baseman Today

Today, I revive this blog out of yet another extended coma, although you could say I picked a good day to begin an extended rest (September 29, the day after the most insane night in baseball history). However, after a thrilling and entertaining postseason that culminated with the Cardinals capturing an unprecedented 11th championship, it's time to get this bad boy going again.

We sit just days away from a majority of teams reporting to Spring Training, including the White Sox, who just happen to be one of the last teams to have their pitchers and catchers report (February 23). Since baseball does not really begin for me until the Sox hit camp in Arizona, I figure I will fill in the time by providing you with my own lists of the top ten players at each position. MLB Network has been airing their top ten lists all winter, and there is not a better way to gear up for the start of Spring Training by examining the best players in baseball today, and who could be on the verge of breaking out! Today we begin with the best first basemen in the game. In order to remain consistent with the way MLB Network does their list, keep in mind that this is the top ten first baseman right now, which means what they did last year will heavily account for where each player is ranked on here. What they accomplished in 2004 will not carry much weight on this list. Defensive abilities will also be taken into account.

10.) Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
2011 stats: .282 avg., 21 HRs, 76 RBI, .795 OPS
While there was not a great deal of hype surrounding Freeman when he debuted with Atlanta last year, many Braves fans still expected big things from the 22-year-old lefty. Freeman did not disappoint, finishing with rock-solid numbers in his rookie season. Look for him to climb higher on this list in the coming years.

9.) Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Philles
2011 stats: .253 avg., 33 HRs, 116 RBI, .835 OPS
It would be an understatement to say that the Phillies will miss having Howard's bat in the lineup to start the 2012 season due to injury. Until his unfortunate injury at the end of the division series where he tore his left achilles, Howard displayed his durability during the season, playing in 152 games while finishing third among NL first basemen in home runs and second in RBI. His strikeout total continues to be very high (172 last year) but as long as he produces those kind of numbers, that can and will be easily overlooked.

8.) Michael Morse, Washington Nationals
2011 stats: .303 avg., 31 HRs, 95 RBI, .910 OPS
Perhaps this is a bit of a surprise for some of you to see Morse on this list, however, he was a very underrated bat in Washington's lineup last year. With third baseman Ryan Zimmerman battling injuries throughout the season, Morse stepped up and became the offensive leader on the Nationals, leading the team in home runs, RBI, OPS and batting average. His OPS was also good enough to rank third among all NL third basemen, trailing only Joey Votto and Prince Fielder. We will find out this year if Morse's season was just a fluke, or if he is really here to stay as one of the best first basemen in the game.





7.) Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox
2011 stats: .300 avg., 31 HRs, 105 RBI, .906 OPS

In Lindy's Sports Baseball Preview Magazine this season, one of the adjectives they used to describe Konerko was "regal." It is a fitting sobriquet for the long-time first baseman of the White Sox, as he continues to be the silent and dignified leader of a team that has been known for being anything but quiet in the headlines the past several seasons. He lets his play do the talking for him, and he has been doing a lot of talking through his bat lately, as he put together another terrific season in spite of the team's dismal third-place finish. Konerko's 31 home runs were second among all AL first baseman, and his .906 OPS was third trailing only Adrian Gonzalez and Miguel Cabrera. The fact that he continues to put up great numbers in a pathetically underachieving lineup the last couple of seasons has been nothing short of remarkable, and it is a shame that it has not been noticed by more people. While his glove is not quite as good as Teixeira's, those who watch Konerko on a regular basis will see that he is a better fielder than many people give him credit for, sabermetricians included.



6.) Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees
2011 stats: .248 avg., 39 HRs, 111 RBI, .835 OPS
Despite the glacial atrophy of his batting average the last couple of seasons (it has dropped 44 points since 2009), Teixeira continues to rake and take advantage of the cozy dimensions inside of the new Yankee Stadium. His 39 homers led all AL first basemen and his 111 RBI was second only to Adrian Gonzalez. Perhaps the only reason why I gave Teixeira the edge over Konerko was because of his continued defensive excellence at first base.

5.) Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
2011 stats: .309 avg., 29 HRs, 103 RBI, .947 OPS
While Votto's 2011 campaign was not nearly as spectacular as his MVP season of 2010, he still proved that he belongs in the discussion of the best first basemen in baseball with a terrific statistical year for the Reds. He led all NL first basemen in batting average, on-base percentage (.416) and OPS, while finishing third in RBI and fifth in homers. Along with this, he continues to display an underrated defensive prowess in the field.








4.) Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers
2011 stats: .299 avg., 38 HRs, 120 RBI, .981 OPS
He was the second-biggest free agent available on the market, and that was only because some guy named Pujols was also a free agent. Fielder had another dominant season, showing why he is indeed one of the best first baseman in the game. Fielder finished third in the NL with a .981 OPS and he finished second in homers behind Matt Kemp's 39. One aspect that people tend to overlook with Fielder is his durability, as he played in 155 or more games every year of his career except his rookie campaign in 2005. He was part of a two-man wrecking crew in Milwaukee with Ryan Braun for several seasons, and now he will try to recreate that in Detroit with Miguel Cabrera while trying to bring the city its first World Series title since 1984.

3.) Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox
2011 stats: .338 avg., 27 HRs, 117 RBI, . 957 OPS, 45 doubles
It certainly is a shame that it took a trade to Boston before people began to recognize how great of a first baseman Gonzalez is on both sides of the ball. Before anyone suggests that it was only because he played in San Diego, remember he had a MVP-caliber season with them in 2010, hitting .298 with 31 homers, 101 RBI and a .904 OPS in a far weaker lineup that missed the playoffs by just one game. Nonetheless, he had a fantastic year for the Carmines, tying for second in the AL in batting average, while finishing sixth in doubles and third in OPS. Teammate Jacoby Ellsbury ended up receiving more accolades as the season progressed, but Gonzalez's efforts will not be ignored in baseball-mad Boston as long as he continues to have years like the one he had in 2011.

2.) Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
2011 stats: .344 avg., 30 HRs, 105 RBI, 1.033 OPS, 48 doubles
I was a bit reluctant to place Cabrera on this list, as he will no longer be a regular first baseman for the Tigers with the arrival of Prince Fielder. However, with the kind of season he put together last year, I simply could not ignore him. Cabrera was not only phenomenal, he was certainly capable of winning the AL MVP last year, as he was the anchor of Detroit's lineup. His 1.033 OPS was the best among AL first basemen last year and was also second overall in the Junior Circuit, trailing only Jose Bautista. His .344 average was tops in the AL as well. While he certainly is not a gold glove-caliber first baseman, he fields what comes to him, while coming up with the occasional great play.





1.) Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
2011 stats: .299 avg., 37 HRs, 99 RBI, .906 OPS

It must be nice when you are so good, a year like the one above can be considered an "off-year." For Albert's standards, it certainly was. For the first time in his career, the mighty Pujols did not reach the century mark in RBI, nor did he achieve a .300 average. Nonetheless, his OPS still ranked in the top ten in the National League, and his 37 homers were good enough for third in the Senior Circuit. In addition to this, Pujols continues to flash an above-average glove at first base, proving that he is not just a good hitter who is thrown at first base just so he can have a position to play. Let's face it, Pujols would not have been the most coveted free agent during the past offseason if he was not the best hitter in the game today.

The 30 Team/30 Day Report Cards: Day 20- Chicago White Sox

Now I present to you perhaps the easiest report card for me to write, the one on my beloved South Siders!

Chicago White Sox

Record: 88-74 (Second place in AL Central, six games behind Minnesota)

Batting Leaders

Batting Average: Paul Konerko (.312)

Home Runs: Paul Konerko (39)

RBIs: Paul Konerko (111)

On-base Percentage: Paul Konerko (.393)

Pitching Leaders

Wins: John Danks (15)

Strikeouts: John Danks (162)

Innings Pitched: John Danks (213)

ERA: John Danks (3.72). Bullpen- Matt Thornton (2.67)

WHIP: John Danks (1.22). Bullpen- Matt Thornton (1.01)

Saves: Bobby Jenks (27)

Highlight of the Year: An 11-game win streak from June 15 through June 26, which vaulted the team back into contention. The streak was the team’s longest since 1961, and by the time it was over, the Sox went from 7.5 games behind the Twins to just a game and a half. They would eventually move into first place by the All-Star break.

Lowlight of the Year: A horrific 3-10 record against the Twins after the All-Star break, which essentially decided the division.

The Lowdown:

The 2010 season was quite the rollercoaster ride for the White Sox and their fans, as it seemed that there was never a dull moment during any point of the season. The year featured plenty of fireworks, drama and surprises; between the team starting 22-28, Ozzie Guillen and Kenny Williams nearly coming to blows, their 11-game win streak and bringing on the controversial Manny Ramirez for the final weeks of the season, 2010 was packed full of enough drama to be a good subject of a reality show.

In fact, the Sox were a subject of a reality show, as MLB Network aired “The Club” during the course of the season that detailed the inner workings of the Sox’s front office between GM Kenny Williams, owner Jerry Reinsdorf and the ever-loquacious Ozzie Guillen. The show was not only entertaining, but also informative, as viewers were treated to how decisions are made in a MLB front office during the season.

Perhaps the decision the team suffered from the most was the one to not bring back the popular Jim Thome as DH for the season, as the Sox shuffled between three DHs throughout the year. Neither Mark Kotsay, Andruw Jones or Manny Ramirez were able to pull their weight enough to efficiently support the lineup, and Thome’s resurgent 2010 campaign certainly did not make the Sox’s decision look any better. However, they did receive some outstanding performances at the plate from Paul Konerko, Alex Rios, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Pierre, as well as some rock-solid pitching from John Danks and the rest of the rotation. The 2010 season may have ended on a disappointing note, but with the way the team started the year, their admirable finish was something to be proud of.

Offense:

Chicago’s offense was essentially led by the aforementioned Paul Konerko, Alex Rios, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Pierre in 2010, as all four of them put together outstanding years at the plate. Konerko nearly made a case for winning the AL MVP, finishing second in the AL in homers (39), eighth in batting average (.312), sixth in RBIs (111) and tied for fifth in on-base percentage (.393). Konerko’s performance was perhaps the best all-around one of his career, and while Josh Hamilton was fantastic for Texas, a strong case could have been made for Konerko winning the MVP had the Sox made the playoffs.

Behind Konerko was center fielder Alex Rios, who put together a fantastic comeback season, hitting .284, with 21 home runs and 88 RBIs in 147 games. Even though Rios cooled off a bit in the second-half, he was white-hot in the first half, hitting .305 with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs. Interestingly enough, he was left off of the American League All-Star team, perhaps the only real snub on either side.

Even though Juan Pierre did not make the All-Star team, he put together a season that made people remember why he’s such a dangerous lead-off hitter. While his average does not seem impressive (he hit only .275 this year), he was a force to be reckoned with once he reached base, stealing a MLB-best 68 bases.

Rounding out this quartet of hitters is Alexei Ramirez, who captured the first AL Silver Slugger award of his career at shortstop, hitting .282 with 18 home runs and 70 RBIs. His consistent bat at short should make him a mainstay in the Sox infield for the next few seasons. The performances of these four were good enough to mask some of the warts in this lineup, including sub-par seasons from the DHs, as well as Carlos Quentin, who hit only .243 despite his 26 home runs and 87 RBIs.

Overall, the White Sox finished 10^th in runs (752), seventh in batting average (.268), 12^th in on-base percentage (.332), eighth in slugging (.420) and seventh in home runs (177). Their lineup may have started off slowly, but once June arrived, they collectively performed up to their standard, for the most part.

Final Grade: B+

Pitching:

While Buehrle has been considered the staff ace for the better part of eight years, a strong case can be made for lefty John Danks assuming that role very soon. Danks led the team in virtually all of the major pitching categories (seen above in “Pitching Leaders”), and he has begun to display the mentality of a staff ace by going deeper into ballgames this year. Ozzie Guillen and the coaching staff have managed Danks’ innings quite efficiently throughout his brief three year career, and the time may have arrived to where they can let him loose without worry of overwork.

The rest of the staff was decent throughout the season, as many of the starters battled back from slow starts to finish with solid numbers. Gavin Floyd started the season horrifically before finding his rhythm just before the All-Star break, finishing with a 10-13 record with a 4.08 ERA. Mark Buehrle was an innings eater once again, tossing in 213 of them, but his 13-13 record with a 4.28 ERA leaves something to be desired. Freddy Garcia was up-and-down for the most part, finishing 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA, while Peavy wasn’t much better, going 7-6 with a 4.63 ERA before succumbing to a shoulder injury on July 6. The injury was unfortunate, as Peavy appeared to be bouncing back from an awful start, recording a 1.75 ERA over five starts in June.

In order to make up for Peavy’s absence, the Sox traded a promising hurler by the name of Daniel Hudson to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for starting pitcher Edwin Jackson. Even though the trade seemed puzzling at first (Jackson had a 5.16 ERA in 21 starts with Arizona), Jackson seemed to benefit from returning to the American League, recording a 3.24 ERA in 11 starts with Chicago.

While their starting pitching seemed to hold steady after recovering from a terrible start, their bullpen did not experience too many issues, finishing 10^th in MLB with a 3.73 ERA. Set-up man (and occasional closer) Matt Thornton was the best reliever in the Sox’s bullpen this year, finishing with a WHIP of 1.01 and an ERA of 2.67 in a team-high 61 appearances. Righty J.J. Putz nearly matched his numbers, recording a WHIP of 1.04 with an ERA of 2.83 in 60 appearances. Righty and converted shortstop Sergio Santos was also very effective out of the ‘pen, recording a 2.96 ERA in 56 appearances.

The most disappointing performer out of the bullpen however was Bobby Jenks. Even though he still recorded 27 saves, his ERA was an unsightly 4.44. While there were a myriad of reasons why the Sox failed to win the division, Jenks was certainly one of them, as he blew three crucial saves in the second-half, including losing a critical must-win game against the Twins on July 18. While Guillen’s decision to continue to stick with Jenks was admirable, the manager must have felt conflicted as to how to resolve the issue of the closer’s role.

Collectively the staff finished 18^th in ERA (4.09), sixth in quality starts (94), 16^th in WHIP (1.36), 22^nd in “batting average against” (.264) and 24^th in home runs allowed (136). It was a mediocre performance overall, one that could have been remedied with a better April and May.

Final Grade: C+

Wild Card: Team Speed and Omar Vizquel

The Sox finished second in the American League and in MLB in steals with 160, trailing only Tampa Bay’s 172. Four players reached double-digit figures in steals, including Juan Pierre (68), Alex Rios (34), Alexei Ramirez (13) and the 43-year-old Omar Vizquel (11).

Vizquel’s importance to this team should not go without mention, either. He filled in capably at third once Mark Teahen went down to an injury, hitting .290 against righties while playing outstanding defense, as usual. Having second baseman Gordon Beckham and shortstop Ramirez under his tutelage should bode well for their defense, as well.

Final Grade: A

Overall:

The Sox finished with an okay record, but if you were to pinpoint two reasons why they missed the playoffs, it would be their dismal start, along with a dreadful 5-13 overall record against the Twins. The Sox have the pieces in place to go to the playoffs, but they simply need to execute better and play more consistently.

Final Grade: B

Check back soon for the report card on the Boston Red Sox!

AL MVP candidates: who gets your vote?

Well, the pennant races are finally hitting the home stretch, and it is at this time of year that we usually find out who the league MVPs are. Who are the players that put their team on their back throughout the season, and carried them through the thick of the pennant race? If you took that particular player off of a contender, would that team be in the position they are in? Those are the questions that voters usually look at when it comes to who deserves the recognition of the "Most Valuable Player." Tonight, we'll take a look at the top three candidates in the American League.

Stats are as of September 13.


3.) Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
.335 batting average, 34 home runs, 116 RBIs, .429 OBP

Cabrera is arguably having the best all-around season of the three players listed here this year. His 116 RBIs and .429 OBP both lead the American League, while his batting average and home runs rank second and third respectively. If the Tigers were having a better season, he would definitely be the runaway pick for the MVP. Unfortunately for him, and for the Tigers and their fans, this summer has not been kind to them, as their 72-72 record would attest. The fact that the Tigers are not in contention right now will be the only reason Miguel Cabrera won't win the MVP.



2.) Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox
.322 batting average, 36 home runs, 104 RBIs, .399 OBP

I know many of you out there may think this is a heavily biased pick, but just hear me out on this one. Konerko has been raking for the Sox all year, and this year is turning out to be a career one for "Paulie." He's currently fifth in the AL in batting average, second in home runs, tied for fourth in RBIs with Vladimir Guerrero, and is fifth in on-base percentage. Here's a potential dilemma with Konerko's case though: the Sox still have a very decent shot at missing the playoffs, and still finishing with a better record than the Texas Rangers (they're only one game worse than Texas right now). The thing that could hurt Konerko's MVP chances is similar to Miguel Cabrera's in nature, but at the same time more unfair. With the way the Twins are rolling right now, they still have an outside shot at finishing with the best record in the AL, something completely out of the control of Konerko and the Sox. Should Konerko get penalized by the voters only for the reason that the Sox have a much tougher divisional foe than Josh Hamilton's Rangers do? I don't think so, but that's what usually happens in cases like these. C'est la vie.



1.) Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
.361 batting average, 31 home runs, 97 RBIs, .414 OBP

The only reason why I still think Hamilton deserves the MVP over Konerko is because his overall numbers are better. While he trails Konerko in home runs by five and in RBIs by seven, he is still outhitting him by 39 points, and has a higher OBP by 15 points. I also believe that defense should come into play when comparing the two, and while Konerko is very underrated as a defender at first base, Hamilton plays a much more demanding position in the outfield. He still excels defensively, while putting on a great performance at the plate, too. I don't want to compare the two team's positions in the standings, because that would be unfair to both Konerko and Hamilton. In a case like this, you just look at each individual player and what they bring to their team, and in this case, Hamilton edges Konerko, both offensively and defensively.

Check back soon for the NL MVP candidates!

Rumor has it that....

The White Sox, Padres and Angels are discussing a three-way trade that would send Paul Konerko to Los Angeles, Adrian Gonzalez to Chicago and prospects to San Diego. A very interesting proposition, in my honest opinion. We would be getting a very great left-handed hitter who clubbed 40 home runs last year while playing in a pitcher's ballpark, not to mention a guy who can add some more balance to the lineup. With Thome's departure, there was a clear void in the lineup as far as left-handed power goes. If the Sox were somehow able to acquire Gonzalez, that void would be gone.

However, there is the issue of Konerko's no-trade clause, which is present only because of his 10-5 rights (10-5 rights means that if a player has been in the majors for at least 10 seasons, with the last five being on the same team, they have the power to veto any trade). According to the linked article, Konerko lives in Arizona during the offseason, and as you already know, Southern California is pretty close to Arizona. Nonetheless, I do not know how I feel about Konerko being traded. Yes, he is an "old" 33, but he is still very productive at the plate, and on the field as well. He hit .277 this year (his highest average since 2006), with 28 home runs and 88 RBIs, which is a pretty solid year at the plate. He was also one of my favorite players growing up, and I still have my Paul Konerko autograph on the bill of my Sox hat proudly sitting atop my trophy shelf. He is one of the greatest players in Sox history; he is second in team history in home runs, and he and Frank Thomas are the only two players in Sox history to post back-to-back 40 homer seasons. Sox fans will not forget how clutch he was during the 2005 postseason, when he hit possibly the biggest home run in team history in Game 2 (a 7th inning grand slam off of Chad Qualls). The day "Paulie" plays his final game in a Sox uniform will definitely be a sad one for me and many Sox fans.

But...if they do acquire Gonzalez, I would still be estatic. I would love to see him paired with Carlos Quentin in the lineup next year, and I would love to see him do work on American League pitching. He is similar to Konerko in a lot of ways. He carries himself with a quiet dignity that is similar to "Paulie;" he has unheralded power, just like him and he can field his position very well, just like him, too. The most awesome aspect about this trade idea is that he's 27 years old, which means he is just about to enter his prime. Now that I think about it, if this trade were to go through, I would be sad that Konerko left, but, at the same time, it would be like he never left at all once Gonzalez suits up at first. Like the old saying goes: "sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same." Kenny, if you were able to get this deal done, go for it!