Sportswriter for Montgomery Media
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| amarcus@montgomerynews.com Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515 |
Watching your home team all year long can sometimes fog you perception on the club. If you were to watch the Philadelphia Phillies over 100 times in the 162 game season you might be over-concerned by the problems they have dealt with all year. And maybe you only were able to watch 10 of the New York Yankees' games and they look pretty solid all around. Well here's a new flash before you hit the alert button in your favorite team's World Series aspirations - every team in the major league is flawed.
There about eight teams in the majors that have a legit shot at the title in my mind and 10 teams that are still in the hunt. Who ever gets hot at the right time will win it all in 2010. Let's take a closer look at the 12 contending teams' strength, weakness, and x-factors.
NL EAST
Philadelphia Phillies: STRENGTH - The starting rotation for the 2008 champs has been lights out all year. On any other team Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt are aces, but in Philadelphia behind Roy Halladay they are considered the two and three. That trio will be deadly come the post season.
WEAKNESS - It was only three years ago that the Phils' shortstop Jimmy Rollins was winning the National League MVP award, but now he is hurt and unreliable when he is in the lineup. When J-Roll is running on all cylinders the Phillies offense rolls, but Rollins has never clicked in 2010 and signs of the end of a great career are near. Shane Victorino has been serviceable in the lead-off spot, but the Phils are going to need to put out one lineup in the playoffs and stick to it. Rollins need to be getting on base to maximize the Phils' offensive potential.
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| PHI SS Jimmy Rollins |
X-FACTOR - The Phillies have received the full spectra of Brad Lidge this year. They have seen stellar Lidge, hurt Lidge, and awful Lidge. Currently Lidge is making his way back from the injury bug and pitching well. If the Phillies can get Lidge to be lights out for the post season you mine as well call it good night for the National League and the Phils are my favorite to represent the N.L. for the third consecutive year.
Atlanta Braves: STRENGTH - The bullpen led by closer Billy Wagner has been so strong all year they have contributed to a lot of the Bravos success. They have been able to shorten games and limit innings by their young starters Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens, as well as hold teams at zero and allow the offense to comeback. Jonny Venters should get some consideration for rookie of the year as a setup man and Peter Moylan, Takashi Saito, and Eric O'Flaherty have been strong in innings six through eight.
WEAKNESS - The Braves offense has been inconsistent all year long and with Chipper Jones out for the year they are missing that true three-hole hitter that can be counted on for big RBIs in the post season. Martin Prado and Jason Heyward have been that guy at times, but they are better used in other spots of the order.
X-FACTOR - If Derrek Lee or anyone can emerge as the big bat the Braves, they will be a tough out in a five or seven game series. Troy Glaus and Brian McCann are other guys that have the potential to become the feared fall classic hitter.
NL CENTRAL
Cincinnati Reds: STRENGTH - The Reds offense can rake and Joey Votto is the lumbering lunatic in the middle of it. A sweet lefty stroke and possible MVP of the 2010 season, the Reds can attack for runs in a hurry. Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, Scott Rolen and company all contribute to the new red machine and in their home ball park opponent's must try to match them homer-for-homer if they want to leave Ohio with a win.
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| CIN 1B Joey Votto |
WEAKNESS - At one time the bullpen was one of the Reds strengths, but the long season has taken a toll on its veteran arms. Arthur Rhodes and closer Francisco Cordero started the season lights out, but lately have been rather mortal. Lefty phenom Aroldis Chapman adds a unknown nastiness to the pen, but he can be more wild than effective sometimes.
X-FACTOR - I could not even tell you how Dusty Baker would set up his rotation. The starters have been a mixed bag all year, but serviceable. Johnny Cueto and Bronson Arroyo are probably the lone locks for the rotation with Homer Bailey, Travis Wood, Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez and Mike Leake fighting it out for the other two spots.
St. Louis Cardinals: STRENGTH - The starting rotation. WEAKNESS - The offense minus Albert Pujols. X-FACTOR - The offense minus Albert Pujols (Colby Rasmus, John Jay, Yadier Molina)
NL WEST
San Diego Padres: STRENGTH -The entire pitching staff has been the best in baseball for the majority of the year. Using cavernous Petco Park to their advantage, the Padres have received quality starts from their starters and untouchable innings from Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams, and closer Heath Bell.
WEAKNESS - If it was not for Adrian Gonzalez I'm not sure the Padres would have scored 100 runs as a team this season. They have no true lead off man, no run producers to protect Gonzalez and no offense that looks like it would owned by a division leader.
X-FACTOR - If the Padres want any chance to make the World Series they are going to have to show they leave sunny So-Cal and win on the road in small stadiums such as Great American Ball Park (CIN) and Citizens Bank Park (PHI).
San Francisco Giants: STRENGTH - starting rotation. WEAKNESS - offense. X-FACTOR - the bullpen bridge from the starters to closer Brian Wilson.
Colorado Rockies: STRENGTH - offense. WEAKNESS - starting rotation consistency.X-FACTOR - closer Huston Street.
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| NYY SS Derek Jeter |
AL EAST
New York Yankees: STRENGTH - It quite possibly is the most feared lineup in baseball. Just when you think you got Derek Jeter out to lead off the inning, here comes Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and this year's MVP candidate Robinson Cano. The Yanks can out slug anyone and with Mariano Rivera in the back-end, games can be over in a hurry.
WEAKNESS - Behind another year of C.C. Sabathia brilliance has been a pile of patheticness. A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez have been no where near as good as advertised, Andy Pettitte has missed most of the season, Phil Hughes has hit a wall since his all-star first half, and the fill-in are not worthy of getting their mentioned.
X-FACTOR - The fact they have been there and done that 27 times plays a big part in my prediction for them to represent the American League in the World Series. While the Rangers, Rays, and Twins have all had great seasons, the Yanks experience gives them the slight edge to return to the Fall Classic.
Tampa Bay Rays: STRENGTH - It's young, but it's filthy. The Rays starting rotation has all the makings of sweeping by even the toughest offenses in the post season. David Price, Matt Garza, James Shields have all experienced a World Series baseball in 2008 and they have a chance to better in 2010.
WEAKNESS - The Rays are full of young and talented athletes, but they are not the brightest baseball players. Manager Joe Maddon covers up for the stupidity of players like B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford as much as he can, but they are more reactionary players, rather than instincts.
X-FACTOR - In the 2008 the Rays had Price pitching in big spots late in games and they may have the same shut down youngster them in 2010, whether it be Wade Davis or Jeremy Hellickson. They may project as starters, but they could be unhittable for one inning in the playoffs.
AL CENTRAL
Minnesota Twins: STRENGTH - Ron Gardenhire sometimes gets lost in the Twin Cities, but he is the best manager no one talks about. He does not have the sexiest starters, lineup or bullpen, but he finds the right formula to get the job done on a daily basis.
WEAKNESS - The Twins really struggle away from Target Field and traveling to New York, Tampa, or Texas will really tough. If they want to go anywhere this year they need to lock up home field advanatge through the playoffs.
X-FACTOR - A concussion over a month ago has sideline former MVP first basemen Justin Morneau, yet the Twinkees have still be able to run away from the White Sox. If Morneau can contribute at all in the playoffs it will be a big bonus.
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| MIN C Joe Mauer |
Chicago White Sox: STRENGTH - Veteran leaders in Paul Konerko, Omar Vizquel, Mark Buehrle, and A.J. Piersynzski. WEAKNESS - closer woes. X-FACTOR - Edwin Jackson.
AL WEST
Texas Rangers: STRENGTH - The Yankees may get my nod for the best offense, but the club down south is a very close second. The Rangers can mash from one-through-nine and anyone can take a quick inning into a marathon.
WEAKNESS - Cliff Lee has ace abilities, but he too has been flawed since arriving in Arlington. The other four starters have just the same amount of stardom, but they all flirt with four or five run outing monthly. That kind of unknown quantity from your starters will kill you in the post season.
X-FACTOR - If Josh Hamilton is in the lineup and fully healthy the Rangers offense is frightening. The probable A.L. MVP cannot stay on the field and may be the thorn in the side that knock the Rangers out of contention before they can blink.
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| Abington will play host to Souderton on Thursday |
Montgomery Media HS Football - Week 3 Predictions (winner in yellow)
Germantown Academy @ The Hill School
Pennridge @ Council Rock South
Central Bucks South @ Norristown
Harry S Truman @ Upper Dublin
Furness @ Upper Moreland
William Tennent @ Upper Merion
Wissahickon @ Central Bucks West
Lower Moreland @ New-Hope Solebury
Quakertown @ Cheltenham
Souderton @ Abington
WC Henderson @ Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Methacton @ Pottstown
ANC @ Springfield
Lansdale Catholic @ Monsignor Bonner
Hatboro-Horsham @ Council Rock North
Owen J. Roberts @ Spring-Ford
Pope John Paul II @ Phoenixville
Upper Perk @ Perkiomen Valley
LaSalle @ West Catholic
Bishop McDevitt @ Archbishop Carroll
Conwell-Egan @ Archbishop Wood
St. Joe's Prep @ North Penn
Last week's record: 14-6
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