David Price: - David Price, who plays for Tampa Bay Rays, was also formidable during the 30-days period. Although he had a very shaky start to August, he finished strongly with four sensational starts. Giving away seven runs in 11.1 innings of his opening two games, Price came back strongly in his next 31.1 innings, conceding three more runs. However, his ability to perform under pressure against the best in the business sets him apart from the rest. Tampa’s All-Star lefty managed to keep New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox to only one run and nine hits in 16 innings. Striking out 114 batters in seven shut-out innings against the Blue Jays, he ended the month on a high note as well. David struck-out 43 and held hitters to only 0.592 OPS in 42.1 innings. http://blogs.bettor.com/Top-five-pitchers-in-Major-League-Baseball-for-the-month-of-August-2011-a104911
With only 1.6 fWAR over the last two seasons and a great deal of uncertainty about his future, Roberts' contract extension now looks much worse than almost anyone could have imagined (and it wasn't expected to turn out that well to begin with). The two years and $20 M left on it probably won't provide any significant return. Obviously, that's not the biggest issue though (and I imagine insurance will cover part of the deal anyway). Brian Roberts was a major part of the Orioles for many years, and the way things have gone recently is very unfortunate. Hopefully he can recover well enough for there not to be any serious lasting effects for him, even if he never makes it back onto a baseball field. - http://www.camdencrazies.com/2011-articles/october/2011-orioles-retrospective-brian-roberts.html
Robbie Grossman: (JR) To be honest, I have no idea what to make of Robbie Grossman. Repeating the year in Bradenton, he has continued to strike out at a healthy rate, but it is trending in the right direction while also upping the walks — nearly to an even 1:1 ratio with the strikeouts — and the power. It has been a breakout campaign, but I remain skeptical. Is the power legitimate? Does he actually have a good approach at the plate or is he merely being "passive" at the lower levels? Grossman was one of Greg Smith's first big over slot signings in that 2008 draft class, so he has been on the radar rather than suddenly descending from the æther. I hope that I have a better conception of what kind of future he has after this stint in the AFL. http://bullpenbanter.com
The Rangers are only the second team ever to win four games in a series in which there starting pitchers did not record a win. The other is the 1997 Cleveland Indians. As neither the Yankees nor the Phillies won a single playoff series, 2011 marks the 12th consecutive year that the World Series will not feature both No. 1 seeds. The last time was 1999, when the Braves and Yankees met. It is also the second consecutive year that neither No. 1 seed made it (the Yankees and Phillies both lost in the LCS last year) and fourth time in the last six years. Arthur Rhodes will win a World Series ring no matter what. He was released earlier this year by the Rangers. Last year, Bengie Molina was traded from San Francisco to Texas to make room for Buster Posey. He still received a World Series ring despite being on the losing team. No current Rangers have played on a winning World Series team. However, David Murhpy owns a ring after appearing in three games for the 2007 Red Sox. Yorvit Torrealba is the only Ranger to play in a World Series for a different team (2007 Rockies). - http://www.draftamerica.com/seffspeak.php
So who do you like better at catcher for the next 10 days, the Rangers’ Mike Napoli or the Cardinals’ Yadier Molina? While I think the youngest of the catching Molinas, the one with the hardened face that looks like it comes straight out of a reality show about a California prison, is the best catcher for right now I’m taking Napoli. He’s been much more dangerous as a hitter and so solid behind the plate that Mike Scioscia has a hard time explaining why the Angels let him go. Going position by position on the World Series team, the catcher debate is probably the most difficult to resolve. I’ll go advantage, Texas, but to make up for that, I’ll go advantage, St. Louis, with the second-most difficult position, right field. Nelson Cruz vs. Lance Berkman is another really tough argument for me. I love Cruz – his quick-strike potential as a hitter, the clutch throw he delivered to home plate in the bottom of the ninth in Game 2 against the Tigers. But an in-shape Berkman, circa 2011, is a better player. He’s a better hitter – far more likely to get on base (.412 OBP this season, compared to .312 for Cruz), and far more likely to put the ball in play to advance a runner and put pressure on fielders. He’ll cover at least as much ground in right field, and he can throw. I’m not sure why, but I have a feeling that this is a huge matchup. If the Cardinals win the World Series, I’d bet Berkman turns in a big performance and that the Cardinals find a way to pitch to Cruz. To complete the position-by-position look, I give Texas advantages at second base (Ian Kinsler), shortstop (the young legs of Elvis Andrus), third baseman (David Freese is hot but Adrian Beltre’s better), in center field (Josh Hamilton, who may also play some left) and, for three games, at DH (Michael Young). The Cardinals get the edge only at first base, but in Albert Pujols it is a massive edge, and in left field (Matt Holliday). - http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-your-morning-phil-hoyer-berkman-preller-20111019,0,3659315.story
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