5 Pitchers who are Best Equipped to Handle the Pressures of October

Pitching is one of the toughest jobs in professional sports, especially in the MLB playoffs of October.  Intense focus is absolutely vital and a single bad fastball left hanging over the plate can easily ruin a team’s entire World Series hopes.  As pitching often decides these playoff encounters, lets take a quick look at who figures to play a prominent role in the proceedings and is most equipped to handle the pressures that will come in these cold, mentally draining late season starts.

1. Clayton Kershaw – There’s no denying that the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kershaw is the ultimate ace pitcher this year and is a sure bet to win the NL Cy Young Award. But having won the award twice in his young career already, I think he wants to add a World Series ring to his resume!  Fortunately, his 1.78 ERA is best in the bigs and his postseason display last year eased the pain from his previous October outings of several years back, when he struggled mightily.  Surrounded by great talent, Kershaw should ride a wave of momentum into a championship.
2. Max Scherzer – Often held back in the shadows of the Detroit Tigers’ ace pitcher Justin Verlander, Scherzer has quietly become the best #2 pitcher in baseball and currently holds a decent 3.13 ERA. In recent playoff years, he has pitched tremendously well, though he certainly will need to step up now following the injury to Verlander.  A lot of the Tigers’ hopes now rest on his arm but he definitely has the capabilities to get them far and finally take over the leadership role of this team!
3. Jon Lester – A hero for the Boston Red Sox championship year in 2013 behind a postseason ERA of 1.56, Lester jumped ship to the Oakland Athletics several weeks ago and will have another great shot at a title once again. A heroic story following his recovery from lymphoma, Lester has battled adversity far beyond the mound, and he has the proof of a successful career that continues to improve with strong strikeouts.  He looks to be at home in Oakland and could lead a stunning playoff run at his new club.
4. Adam Wainwright – With a strong 2.34 ERA with the St. Louis Cardinals, Wainwright is having his best year. Having been with the team for his whole career, the pitcher has found a home and has come into his own in recent years.  Numerous playoff trips have proven largely successful for Wainwright and he figures to have another strong outing in 2014.  The Cardinals have been a great team recently and could certainly claim the World Series should this pitcher dominate.
5. David Price – A player who has certainly struggled in the postseason with the Tampa Bay Rays, Price hopes to benefit from the new surroundings in Detroit with the Tigers. His season has been quite good with a 3.21 ERA but his issue will be mental.  I’m hoping that a change of teams is exactly what his career needed.  The Rays were never going to win, but the Tigers have far more talent and opportunity.  If Price can perform to his potential this October, Detroit just might end up as World Series champions!

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Are the Los Angeles Dodgers Unstoppable?

With a record approaching historic records over the last 50 games, the Los Angeles Dodgers are beginning to look like the exciting and talented team that everyone expected once their new owners took over.  After several high priced acquisitions started to click, and a sensational rookie by the name of Yasiel Puig joined their ranks, the Dodgers are the strongest team is baseball and the front-runners for the 2013 World Series.  Is there any hope left for the other contenders?

Of course there is.  Pushing the odds against the Los Angeles Dodgers is the fact that they haven’t been to the MLB Playoffs since 2009.  But that’s about it.  Right now the talent on this team is pretty incredible, and whether or not they win it all this year, the Dodgers will become a familiar team in playoff baseball come every October.

Their starting pitching is formidable.  Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu are all pitching very well and each have over 10 wins on the season.  Relief pitching has been solid, and incoming closer Brian Wilson could figure into the mix in the latter stages of the season.

But the most exciting part of the Dodgers has been the hitting.  Yasiel Puig has been sensational and may figure to become the premier hitting talent of the new generation.  His .352 average is among the best in the majors, and his power makes him one of the most dangerous players on the field.  His call-up provoked this incredible run for the Dodgers, and he is the heart and soul of the team and its fans.  That’s a lot of pressure for any 22-year-old rookie, but so far Puig has carried the team along with confidence and brilliant play.  His defensive work is also first rate in the outfield.  He can carry this team far.

Other hitters have also picked up steam for the Dodgers, including Hanley Ramirez.  Although injured for the first half of the season, Ramirez has returned and put up similar numbers to Puig.  With two dominant power-hitting players, the Dodgers lineup is menacing.

The rest of the team is solid as well.  Adrian Gonzalez is a near .300 hitter while up and down the lineup are capable players that hit in the upper .200’s.  This makes the team quite solid and well prepared even if Puig stutters in the playoffs due to nerves or the cold weather.  The talent is well spread throughout the lineup to handle any potential opponents.

So is there any reason to feel that the Dodgers won’t be rumbling and bouncing their way along to the World Series?  Surely, October baseball brings about drama and will have its stern tests ahead for the Dodgers.  They aren’t the only team with a great record.  The Atlanta Braves are solid, as are the Cincinnati Reds, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the St. Louis Cardinals; and those teams are all in for the NL Pennant!  But no one is hotter than the Dodgers right now, and I get the feeling that they aren’t slowing down any time soon.  It will be a joy to see what baseball’s most exciting team will bring to the MLB Playoffs this year!

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Opening Day of Baseball Brings Back America’s Pastime

Spring training is wrapping up and the strong signs of warm weather mean the wonderful sport of baseball is set to return in America.  Summer truly is on the horizon, and by this time next week we will all be right back in the thick of the action.  With the games just around the bend, the question on everyone’s mind is surely, who will win the 2013 World Series?  Smart teams have assembled key free agents and puzzle pieces to help sustain a run, while other teams are struggling with injuries or the realization that those key pickups may not be so key after all!  How is baseball going to shape up this season?

One of the teams that intrigues me is the Los Angeles Dodgers.  With new and ambitious owners, the team has been stockpiling an expensive array of big name players.  Now they boast one of the best groups of starting pitchers in the nation.  Clayton Kershaw is an ace just one year removed from the NL Cy Young award.  Zack Greinke, a highly prized free agent, has also joined the side, which will help them compete against anyone with their top two pitchers.  3^rd pitcher Josh Beckett was a strange option brought in from the Boston Red Sox, and has been through a rough patch of his career.  But if he can approach any of his former greatness, Beckett could be another ace for the Dodgers.  Only 32 years old, Beckett is still young enough to return to form and has big game experience.  The Dodgers have a range of players to fill out the rotation including Chad Billingsley, Chris Capuano, and Aaron Harang.

For the reason that their pitching should be so good, I am predicting the Los Angeles Dodgers to reach the 2013 World Series.  Yes, their disappointment last year was embarrassing, but Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the new ownership is doing everything possible to make the Dodgers a contender.  I also envision them making another big trade late in the season to fix any weaknesses.

In the American League?  I’m picking the New York Yankees, for the simple reason that no one else is.  This overlooked team won the AL East last year, and although alarm bells have been ringing all offseason about injuries to Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez, and mark Teixeira, the Yankees have added several veterans who could provide the necessary punch including Travis Hafner, Kevin Youkilis, and Ichiro Suzuki who arrived midseason last year.  With C.C. Sabbathia on the mound they have a proven ace pitcher.  Kiroki Kuroda and Andy Pettite can still compete, and the Yankees have a solid closer in Mariano Rivera.

The Yankees will probably struggle early in the season, but as players return from injuries and the rest of the team starts to click, they could get red hot in time for October.  Plus, if the engine needs a kick-start, who would doubt that the Yankees might make a blockbuster trade in June to get things moving?  They will find a way to get into the postseason as a wild card team, and make the run all the way to the World Series.  That’s right, I’m picking the New York Yankees to win it all against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 7 games.  Let the fun begin!

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Spring Training Brings a Re-Arranged MLB Back to Baseball

It is no surprise that some serious movement has occurred throughout the MLB this off-season. Baseball is a sport always geared around trades and what missing puzzle pieces can bring a World Series to a specific team. The owners and general managers sure were busy this offseason, and as spring training is set to begin in under a week, baseball fans will get a new look at how their teams will operate in the upcoming 2013 baseball season. Here are some of the more important questions facing several teams that may be partially answered in spring training.

Are the Dodgers ready to contend? With the Los Angeles Dodgers securing a high paying television deal recently that will provide them a revenue of around $250 million per year, they have continued their spending spree. Pitcher Zack Greinke joins a lineup that already boasts Clayton Kershaw, Josh Beckett, and new Korean pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu. Solid hitters Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Hanley Ramirez look great on paper too. The question is will this team actually click and produce a World Series or will they simply put up some big numbers and fail to make the playoffs like they did last year?

Will the New York Yankees be able to hit? With the departure of Nick Swisher and the serious injury to Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees signed several veteran hitters to try and reproduce some lost offensive production. However, these players come with loads of questions that will need to be answered. Kevin Youkilis, Matt Diaz, and Travis Hafner all bring along a storied past of big hits and runs, but have struggled recently to dips of form and injuries. None of these guys hit over .240 last year, and they are all in their mid 30’s. Will any of these guys spark a career comeback with the Yankees, or will they disappoint?

Are the Cincinnati Reds ready to take the next step? Last season’s playoffs ended in misery for the Reds as they let a 2 game lead slip to the eventual World Series Champions San Francisco Giants in the NLDS. They have brought back every major piece of the team including outfielder Ryan Ludwick whom they re-signed. They also brought in Shin-Soo Choo, a solid hitter with decent power. Lining up with Joey Votto and Jay Bruce the Reds will have a solid offense. Their pitching staff was also spectacular last year with Johnny Cueto, Bronson Arroyo, and Mat Latos. Was last year’s division championship just a fluke or are the Reds set to take the next step and win a pennant?

Will the Washington Nationals lead the Major Leagues in wins again? The Nationals came out of nowhere last year to lead the entire MLB in win with 98. Although they fell in a disastrous manner to the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs, the Nationals should be improved. They re-signed Adam LaRoche, traded for Denard Span, and signed free agent premier closer Rafael Soriano. With a slate of starting pitchers including Stephen Strasburg, Dan Haren, Gio Gonzalez, and Jordan Zimmerman, the Nationals could be the best team in baseball again, but will definitely want to see an improved playoffs should they get there.

So with spring training taking shape and the regular season beckoning in the not too distant future, let’s see if some of these questions get resolved over the next few weeks as these teams take shape in the spring.

Baseball is almost back!

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