Sunday marked the final day of the first half to the 2009 MLB regular season. As the stars arrive in St. Louis for tonight’s Home Run Derby and tomorrows All-Star game, we look back at an interesting first half and look forward to the second half. As for a prediction, I believe this is the year the National League gets its revenge and earns its 1st All-Star Game victory since 1996.National League 6, American League 4
Midseason Awards
NL Team – San Francisco Giants (49-39, 7 GB NL West, NL Wild Card Leader)
Bruce Bochy’s third season in San Francisco is off to a memorable start. Capped on Friday night with Jonathan Sanchez throwing the first no-hitter of the 2009 season, the Giants find themselves two games up on the Rockies in the NL Wild Card standings.
Coming off a forgettable 72-90 campaign in 2008, the Giants are well positioned to make a run at their first trip to the playoffs since 2003.
The Giants are led by one of the best young pitching staffs in baseball, with All-Stars Tim Lincecum (10-2, 2.33 ERA) and Mat Cain (10-2, 2.42 ERA) heading the group. Barry Zito and Randy Johnson have provided solid veteran leadership and solidified the #3 and #4 positions in the rotation with Jonathan Sanchez now guaranteed the final rotation stop.
The offense has been paced by All-Star snub Pablo Sandoval. The 22 year old 3B is batting a team-high .331 with 14 HR and 53 RBI in 80 games. Veteran C Bengie Molina has provided some needed pop behind the plate, with 11 HR and 50 RBI in 78 games.
Ultimately, the Giants will only go as far as their young starting pitchers will carry them. With Lincecum and Cain on top of the rotation, they are set for a run in the 2nd half.
AL Team - Detroit Tigers (48-39, 1st place in Central)
Another team off to a tremendous start after a tumultuous 2008, the Tigers find themselves with a 3.5 game lead in the Central at the break. After a last place finish in 2008, Jim Leyland’s youngsters have the largest lead of any team in the AL at the half way point.
The offense has been lead by 1st time All-Star 3B Brandon Inge (.264, 19 HR, 54 RBI) and All-Star OF Curtis Granderson (.254, 18 HR, 43 RBI, 15 SB). All-Star snub Miguel Cabrera (.322, 17 HR, 48 RBI) continues to put up solid numbers at first base.
The rotation has been a pleasant surprise for Jim Leyland’s squad. All-Star Justin Verlander has led the rotation (9-4, 3.59 ERA) of youngsters and cast-offs through the first half.
The biggest surprise however has been 1st time All-Star Edwin Jackson (7-4, 2.52 ERA). A promising prospect in the Dodgers farm system, Jackson made his MLB debut at the ripe age of 19 in 2003. After making just 14 starts in 3 seasons in LA, the Dodgers shipped Jackson to Tampa Bay, where he spent two full seasons in the rotation, amassing a 19-26 record in 63 starts with a stint in the bullpen during the 2008 playoffs. Jackson was again traded this off-season to Detroit in exchange for Matt Joyce where he has not disappointed.
At the break, Jackson leads the AL in WHIP (1.060), Hits per 9 IP (6.953), and is 2nd in the AL in ERA (2.515).
The Tigers will be in a three team race down the stretch with the White Sox and Twins for the Central division crown. But expect Jim Leyland to pull out all the stops to keep his young team on top of AL Central.
MVP – Albert Pujols 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
At 29, “The Machine” shows no signs of breaking down. After taking home the 2008 NL MVP, Pujols is the leader in the clubhouse for the 2009 crown. When the second half begins, Pujols will begin his attempt to complete the first Triple Crown in MLB since 1967.
Pujols leads the NL in Home Runs (32), RBIs (87) and is 4th in Batting Average (.332), trailing the leader Hanley Ramirez (.349). MLB’s leading vote getter for the All-Star, Pujols will make his 8th appearance in the midsummer classic, starting at 1B in his home ballpark, Busch Stadium.
Second Half Fearless Predictions
Here is how we see the final stretch of the season shaping up:
National League
East – Philadelphia Phillies
Central – Milwaukee Brewers
West – Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card – St. Louis Cardinals
American League
East – Boston Red Sox
Central – Minnesota Twins
West – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Wild Card – New York Yankees
World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers over the Boston Red Sox
Enjoy the Home Run Derby tonight and All-Star Game tomorrow, and then buckle your seat belt for an exciting second half.
Midseason Awards
NL Team – San Francisco Giants (49-39, 7 GB NL West, NL Wild Card Leader)
Bruce Bochy’s third season in San Francisco is off to a memorable start. Capped on Friday night with Jonathan Sanchez throwing the first no-hitter of the 2009 season, the Giants find themselves two games up on the Rockies in the NL Wild Card standings.Coming off a forgettable 72-90 campaign in 2008, the Giants are well positioned to make a run at their first trip to the playoffs since 2003.
The Giants are led by one of the best young pitching staffs in baseball, with All-Stars Tim Lincecum (10-2, 2.33 ERA) and Mat Cain (10-2, 2.42 ERA) heading the group. Barry Zito and Randy Johnson have provided solid veteran leadership and solidified the #3 and #4 positions in the rotation with Jonathan Sanchez now guaranteed the final rotation stop.
The offense has been paced by All-Star snub Pablo Sandoval. The 22 year old 3B is batting a team-high .331 with 14 HR and 53 RBI in 80 games. Veteran C Bengie Molina has provided some needed pop behind the plate, with 11 HR and 50 RBI in 78 games.
Ultimately, the Giants will only go as far as their young starting pitchers will carry them. With Lincecum and Cain on top of the rotation, they are set for a run in the 2nd half.
AL Team - Detroit Tigers (48-39, 1st place in Central)
Another team off to a tremendous start after a tumultuous 2008, the Tigers find themselves with a 3.5 game lead in the Central at the break. After a last place finish in 2008, Jim Leyland’s youngsters have the largest lead of any team in the AL at the half way point.The offense has been lead by 1st time All-Star 3B Brandon Inge (.264, 19 HR, 54 RBI) and All-Star OF Curtis Granderson (.254, 18 HR, 43 RBI, 15 SB). All-Star snub Miguel Cabrera (.322, 17 HR, 48 RBI) continues to put up solid numbers at first base.
The rotation has been a pleasant surprise for Jim Leyland’s squad. All-Star Justin Verlander has led the rotation (9-4, 3.59 ERA) of youngsters and cast-offs through the first half.
The biggest surprise however has been 1st time All-Star Edwin Jackson (7-4, 2.52 ERA). A promising prospect in the Dodgers farm system, Jackson made his MLB debut at the ripe age of 19 in 2003. After making just 14 starts in 3 seasons in LA, the Dodgers shipped Jackson to Tampa Bay, where he spent two full seasons in the rotation, amassing a 19-26 record in 63 starts with a stint in the bullpen during the 2008 playoffs. Jackson was again traded this off-season to Detroit in exchange for Matt Joyce where he has not disappointed.
At the break, Jackson leads the AL in WHIP (1.060), Hits per 9 IP (6.953), and is 2nd in the AL in ERA (2.515).
The Tigers will be in a three team race down the stretch with the White Sox and Twins for the Central division crown. But expect Jim Leyland to pull out all the stops to keep his young team on top of AL Central.
MVP – Albert Pujols 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
At 29, “The Machine” shows no signs of breaking down. After taking home the 2008 NL MVP, Pujols is the leader in the clubhouse for the 2009 crown. When the second half begins, Pujols will begin his attempt to complete the first Triple Crown in MLB since 1967.
Pujols leads the NL in Home Runs (32), RBIs (87) and is 4th in Batting Average (.332), trailing the leader Hanley Ramirez (.349). MLB’s leading vote getter for the All-Star, Pujols will make his 8th appearance in the midsummer classic, starting at 1B in his home ballpark, Busch Stadium.
Second Half Fearless Predictions
Here is how we see the final stretch of the season shaping up:
National League
East – Philadelphia Phillies
Central – Milwaukee Brewers
West – Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card – St. Louis Cardinals
American League
East – Boston Red Sox
Central – Minnesota Twins
West – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Wild Card – New York Yankees
World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers over the Boston Red Sox
Enjoy the Home Run Derby tonight and All-Star Game tomorrow, and then buckle your seat belt for an exciting second half.
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