Awaiting the Joys of Summer
Two months in, and here comes reality, serious as Anna Benson in a Santa outfit.
Same thing, every year.
The season starts to look long. That three-game sweep of the Pirates doesn’t seem worth the parade anymore.
Turns out, the old guys sit around talking about what they had for lunch all day, the young guys are having goatee-growing contests, and it looks as if the Royals blew their revenue-sharing money again, this time on an infield tarp and new hand-lotion dispensers for the ladies’ rooms.
Albert Pujols ascends and Barry Bonds does what he does, Scott Kazmir arrives and Randy Johnson mopes, and the world goes ‘round.
So, let’s just see what we have here ...
NL West
Revelations: The Dodgers aren’t the only ones lacking power. Khalil Greene’s nine home runs for San Diego are as many as or more than anyone else has in the division, other than Matt Holliday (11) and Brad Hawpe (10) of Colorado.... The Dodgers aren’t the only ones who can score runs. The Diamondbacks and Giants are in the top half of the league, as well, the Diamondbacks with a revived Shawn Green and the Giants with a quiescent Bonds.
Pivotal player: Bonds. If he hits 19 home runs, clogs the bases and stumbles around in left field, the Giants are dead, no matter what Moises Alou does.
Pivotal pitcher: Eric Gagne. If he’s healthy and effective, everything changes.
Available by July 31: Dave Roberts, San Diego. A valuable bit of utility in the playoffs.
Most valuable player: Brandon Webb, Arizona: 8-0, 2.18 ERA.
Least valuable player: Vinny Castilla, San Diego: 142 at-bats, one home run.
NL Central
Revelations: Derrek Lee wasn’t a big part of the Cubs’ offense, he was all of it.... We’re not saying it’s going to be a long, hot summer in Pittsburgh, but it’s warming up and the Pirates are wearing corduroys.... Scott Spiezio sighting in St. Louis.... Reds are as advertised at the plate, better than advertised on the mound. Brandon Phillips is driving in runs too.
Pivotal player: Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen. Pujols will be MVP, but Rolen, behind Pujols in the cleanup spot, will be the difference between Pujols having a great season or a historic one.
Pivotal pitcher: Roger Clemens, free agent. Despite some productive places in their order -- Lance Berkman, Morgan Ensberg, for two -- the Astros have to pitch their way back to the Cardinals and Clemens could be a big help.
Available by July 31: Carlos Lee, Brewers, or fling a dart at the Pirates’ roster.
MVP: Pujols. Tracking Hack Wilson’s record 191 runs batted in.
LVP: Juan Pierre, Cubs: .269 on-base percentage.
NL East
Revelations: Not done yet, 40-year-old Tom Glavine is 8-2 after a 13-13 2005 and has lowered his ERA by more than a run. Seventeen more to 300.... Edgar Renteria really is a National League man.... Jimmy Rollins’ longest hitting streak: nine games.... A league-leading .343 average. This, Alfonso, is why Jose Vidro stays at second base.... Marlins: More runs scored than Rockies, Nationals, Pirates and Cubs.
Pivotal player: Carlos Beltran. He doesn’t have to carry the Mets’ offense, not with Carlos Delgado and David Wright around, but it wouldn’t hurt if he did once in a while.
Pivotal pitcher: Guy in the ninth, Braves. Ten blown saves already, most in the league.
Available by July 31: Alfonso Soriano, Washington.
MVP: Chase Utley. Keeping the Phillies reasonably close.
LVP: Jose Guillen, Washington. Multiple injuries (including smearing pine tar into his own eye) and a .212 average too.
AL West
Revelations: New league, learning the pitchers, he’ll come around: Adrian Beltre, 777 AL at-bats and counting.... Runs scored, from the bottom of the league up: Royals, Devil Rays, Angels. Slugging and on-base percentages, from the bottom of the league up: Angels.... The A’s are as much about Nick Swisher being in the lineup as Bobby Crosby being in the lineup.
Pivotal player: Mark Teixeira, Rangers: .315, 71 RBIs in second half of ’05.
Pivotal pitcher: Rich Harden, A’s. Due back from a back strain in two weeks.
Available by July 31: Carl Everett, Mariners.
MVP: Vladimir Guerrero. Wearing 12-man epaulets.
LVP: Esteban Loaiza, A’s: 0-3, 8.35, DL.
AL Central
Revelations: The Tigers. Jim Leyland. Justin Verlander. Justin Verlander’s fastball. Joel Zumaya’s fastball. Chris Shelton’s April. Magglio Ordonez’s May. Starting rotation’s cumulative record: 28-12.... The two worst-performing pitching staffs (non-Royals division): Twins, Indians.... The Indians are 4-5 against the Royals, who otherwise already have two losing streaks of at least 11 games.
Pivotal player: Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers. Hits, handles a young staff into the jaws of summer.
Pivotal pitcher: Bobby Jenks, White Sox. Health and strikes in the ninth.
Available by July 31: Torii Hunter, Twins.
MVP: Jim Thome, White Sox. Fifty-nine games last year: seven homers, 30 RBIs. First 45 games this year: 18 homers, 44 RBIs.
LVP: David Glass, CEO, Royals.
AL East
Revelations: Left for washed up in Florida, Mike Lowell shortened his stroke, worked the Fenway gaps and has revived his career in Boston. Hitting in the seventh spot, where he has gotten about half of his at-bats, Lowell is batting .416.... Forget the platoon: Blue Jays right fielder Alex Rios followed a .362 April with a .352 May.... Mike Mussina could win 20, which he has never done before.... Jonathan Papelbon: one run given up and holding.... Orioles pitchers have walked 215 batters, most in the majors, and new pitching guru Leo Mazzone is finding it difficult to break old habits. The Orioles ranked 29th in the league in walks last season, 30th in 2004, 26th in 2003 and 25th in 2002.
Pivotal player: Gary Sheffield, Yankees. Wrist and contract issues will drive him, or distract him.
Pivotal pitcher: Randy Johnson, Yankees. Will be 43 in June, looks it: Opponents batting .351 with runners in scoring position, .419 with RISP and two out.
Available by July 31: Miguel Tejada, Orioles.
MVP: Josh Beckett, Boston. His transition from the NL, along with Curt Schilling’s bounce-back, keep the Red Sox rolling.
LVP: A.J. Burnett, Toronto. Two starts, one bad elbow, zero wins.