It's always difficult to nail down a specific topic of discussion during a time of year when the MLB is in high gear and both the NHL and NBA leagues are grinding down to the final four teams. Trying to do an "around the leagues" format doesn't do justice to what's on my mind right now. As of today I am officially out of the prognostication/prediction/bookie business, for a few paragraphs anyways.
I'm so used to being right all the time I slip into shock when I get caught bad-mouthing the fading Jays, who were five games under .500 and looking like they are still in the re-building phase. Suddenly even the batboy is on steroids and the AL East is up for grabs until Boston finally takes it.
There, that's as far as I can get without telling you the future. Toronto may have won seven in a row but Jesse Litsch was sure to end that.
I re-read most of my spring previews and without many exceptions I am right on track, but anyone who thinks Cleveland is a contender is probably from Cleveland.The Tigers will catch them and the Twins are in the tank because of what I warned you about - no Mauer or a permanently concussed Morneau. Oops, there I go predicting again. Morneau might be this era's version of Tony Conigliaro - handsome, gun-shy and washed-up.
Let's call this a quarterly report on the MLB and divide the column into a few categories.
Surprises:
Texas Rangers - They are where I said they'd be, but they're doing it with pitching because their two sluggers Hamilton and Cruz have been hurt. Josh Hamilton, no relation to me, took more drugs than I did, if that's possible. I do have a nephew named Josh, but I can't speak for his hobbies.
Toronto Blue Jays - I will relent on my Bautista bashing in exactly four months. If he's still playing like Willie Mays, he better be ready to pee in a cup.
Cleveland Indians - Nobody pegged them to be leading the AL in hitting or their fourth- starter Josh Tomlin to have two more wins than CC Sabathia by mid-May. Sizemore is hurt again, but Michael Brantley has begun to masquerade as an all-star. If Hafner keeps up the pace, I'll start writing Archie comics instead of sports columns.
Disappointments:
New York Yankees - Rodriguez, Jeter, Posada and Swisher all stink and yet the Bronx Bombers lead the AL East in homers. That is thanks in a large part to the Herculean play of Granderson. The pitching is in shambles and yet the minor league system is loaded with talent. It is the same old Cashman - live and die with the old guys. Guess what? Start digging the graves. Bartolo Colon can still throw mid 90s but so can my son the plumber. Freddie Garcia is also not the answer.
Minnesota Twins - this is more about the sad passing of one of yesteryear's finest sluggers: Harmon Killebrew. The "Killer" owns 573 career homers, won the AL home run crown five times in the '60s when guys like Mickey Mantle and Frank Howard were in their prime. We used to ride our motorcycles down to the old Exhibition Park to watch him in the early '70s. When you're an old baseball fan like me, part of you dies when the "old guard" starts to drop off.
Sure bets (so much for no predictions):
Boston and Philly will meet in October and it will be a battle of the Titans. If Utley gets healthy and Howard gets hot, it will be interesting.
The pitching matchups rival the days of when St. Louis squared off against Detroit when Bob Gibson, Mickey Lolich and Denny Mclain were so dominant, or the days of the famous Baltimore pitching staffs.
Tampa Bay - They are already better than expected but actually own 10 of the first 60 draft picks in the 2011 draft and three in the first round. Can you hear me Toronto? It's all about scouting.
Kyle Drabek - I hate Toronto, but this guy is good - really good.
Jorge Posada - Watch the obituaries, it's like watching Ali fight Holmes.
MLB awards as of May 2011:
Cy Young AL - Josh Beckett
Cy Young NL - Roy Halladay
AL MVP - Jose (ouch I don't want to say it) Bautista. If he actually wins I'll call Selig myself, because this guy doesn't need a cape, he needs a blood test.
NL MVP - Matt Holliday
