Tag Archives: Rick Porcello

November 16, 2009

ROY Award Comes Back to Oakland

By mceezy

Some are debating the decision, saying Rick Porcello or Elvis Andrus deserved the award more, but this morning, Athletics reliever Andrew Bailey was named AL Rookie of the Year. Many would argue that Porcello had more of an impact for a contending team. Some would also argue that Andrus deserved it for playing shortstop every day for a team that made a run at the postseason. Amid all these facts, no one can really say anything to take away from what Bailey’s done. Last year at this time, Bailey was buried in the A’s minor league system. He spent the year in AA-Midland, getting roughed up as a starter. This year, he made the change to reliever, and was expected to start the season in AAA-Sacramento. Well, Bailey never arrived. Instead, he overcame longshot odds to win a spot on the big league roster. A month or so later, he was named the A’s closer and his job security never wavered all season long.

In July, he made the all-star team. Obviously that has a lot to do with Oakland not having a clear all-star. I would’ve named Kurt Suzuki, but that’s just me. At any rate, as we look back at Bailey’s final numbers for the season, it only proves he did deserve to be an all-star. After all, he finished with the second best ERA, behind only the immortal Mariano Rivera, and firmly one spot ahead of Jonathan Papelbon.  All this while throwing 15+ innings more than either of them, compiling a 91-24 K:BB ratio, and rattling off 21 straight converted saves to finish the season. I could throw more numbers out, but the point is that Bailey deserved the award. Perhaps in any of the previous four seasons, he doesn’t win it, but this year he was the best. The only knock on him I’ve heard is the fact that he plays for a poor team. If he were an offensive player, I might agree with that, but as a closer, you’re not facing your own team, you’re facing the Angels, and the Rangers, among others. All this really says is if he played for a different team, he would’ve had even MORE saves. Congratulations Andrew. I would say it’s too bad we never got to work together in Sacramento, but obviously things worked out better by jumping straight to Oakland. Besides, let’s be honest, Bailey wasn’t even a top prospect before this season anyway.

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Sports

October 4, 2009

Sometimes you have to play 163!

By chappy81
Twins Tigers Inge

The Tigers could be struggling at the wrong time!

Somehow the Tigers have found themselves in a tie atop the AL Central after a mild implosion coupled with a red hot Twins team. This marks the third straight year that we will have a pre-playoff playoff game. This will be the Twins second consecutive year that they are playing in a tiebreaker game as they lost last season to the White Sox. The game will be held Tuesday in the Metrodome in it’s second farewell to the regular season. As today was supposed to be the last game played there, and 51,000 showed up to show their support of a great longtime stadium. Now they have one more game with the winner advancing to the ALDS ti face the Yankees. The Twins own the regular season head to head tie breaker between the two clubs, and have the right to home field advantage. The starters for the game will be rookie Rick Porcello (14-9, 4.04) for the Tigers, and Scott Baker (15-9 4.36) will be tossing for the Twins. I think this is the first time I’ve been even mildly excited about the MLB playoffs so far, mainly because whoever comes out of this game as the winner, I’ll likely be forced into rooting for them take the AL Championship.

It’s been quite an amazing run for the Twins since former MVP, Justin Morneau, went down for the season. They’ve picked up their game and have gone 16-4 in their last twenty games to give themselves one final chance to get in.

Home hankies will be in full effect Tuesday!

Home hankies will be in full effect Tuesday!

They’ve been getting contributions from everyone including decent pitching (not the middle relief) but overall effective, and some very timely hitting. Delmon Young hasn’t been a stranger to receiving  standing ovations  at the Metrodome lately. He has been coming up with clutch RBI’s in a lot of games, which is very reminiscent of  the way BJ Upton heated up for Tampa Bay in their playoff run last season. Joe Mauer has been quiet for his standards, but it’s mainly due to getting pitched around and walked more often. With this type of playoff push I hope this convinces MVP voters that Mauer is the obvious choice over Derek (I get way too much media hype) Jeter. When you look at the playoff matchups on paper, I think the Tigers would have a better chance of taking down the Yankees lineup wise, but the Twins are white label hot right now so it seems like you can never count a team on a roll out. As Billy Beane once said “It’s a crapshoot once you get in the playoffs, you just have to get there first!”

I’m predicting the Twins to win 5-4, and advance to play the Yankees.

11 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Sports