As the Sports World Turns

By Nate Atkins: SPM OH Writer
Posted Tuesday, July 22, 2008

07-22-08 MVP and Cy Young Leader Boards

Now that a week has passed since the unofficial midway point of the 2008 MLB season, it's time for me to release my picks for the leaders in the MVP and Cy Young categories in each league.

AL Most Valuable Player

1. Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins; As consistent as his bat, Morneau remains on top of the AL in the MVP race this week, leading the surprising Twins---a half game out of first place in the AL Central entering play Monday--- offensively in basically everything, while ranking in the top five in the league in BA, adjusted OPS, hits and RBIs.

2. J.D. Drew, Boston Red Sox; Again, no change here, as Drew's Red Sox are still in the tight AL East race, thanks in no small part to his consistent bat, which ranks in the top six in the league in OPS, SLG%, OBP and runs.

3. Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels; It's dang-near impossible not to recognize what K-Rod is doing in his contract year in Orange County. The quickest closer ever to 30 saves' team holds baseball's best record, while K-Rod has 40 saves, averages over 9 SOs/9 IPs and holds an ERA of 2.25. That's 40 saves in 98 games, the same number as he had all of last year when he finished second in the AL. Think about how good that is.

4. Jermaine Dye, Chicago White Sox; Dye's steady bat of power (top five in the AL in HRs and SLG%) and slick glove have the White Sox leading the ever-tight AL Central.

5. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees; A-Rod continues, ranking in the AL's top two spots in SLG% and OPS for the Yankees, under five games out in the stacked AL East. Without him, the Yanks are a lackluster 8-12 this season.

NL Most Valuable Player

1. Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals; Pujols is still doing it, leading the league in OPS and OBP and ranking second in BA and SLG%, all while averaging over two walks per strikeout for the Cardinals, who remain in a dead-heat race in the NL Central.

2. Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies; Utley continues his search for a third-straight Phillies MVP trophy from the 2B position, ranking in the top five in runs, home runs, extra-base hits and total bases.

3. Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins; Hanley edges out his own teammate, Dan Uggla, as the MVP of the surprising Marlins (1 GB in NL East) by ranking in the top ten in the league in almost all categories, while leading the league in runs.

4. Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves; You have to give it up for Mr. Consistency. His team may be lack-luster, but his bat sure isn't. He's not going to hit .400, but he's still leading the league in that department. And the Braves are still within striking distance of the division.

5. Lance Berkman, Houston Astros; I have to put Berkman on here as well. His 'Stros may be out of it, but it certainly won't be because of Berkman's bat, which ranks in the top three in the league in BA, OBP, OPS, extra-base hits, runs and SLG%. On top of all of that, he's set a career high with 15 SBs.

AL Cy Young

1. Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians; Even a week past the midway point, Lee has yet to be knocked down from his spot atop the AL Cy Young leaderboards even once. With a seven-time complete gamer and a pitcher with just one outing allowing more than two earned runs, that's astronomical. Lee now leads the AL solely in wins, while also ranking in the top two in ERA, SO/BB ratio and winning percentage.

2. Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays; Doc Halladay has more complete games than any other team and also leads the league in innings and shutouts.

3. Justin Duchscherer, Oakland Athletics; You know that pitcher I talked about that has allowed more than two earned run in an outing only once? That'd be Duchscherer. Tough luck has him out of the top two in the AL Cy Young despite leading the league in ERA and WHIP.

4. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners; Even if they haven't been able to give him proper run support, the Mariners can at least take pride this season in what King Felix has done. The 22-year-old ranks in the top ten in the league in ERA, complete games, strikeouts and SO/9 IP.

5. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox; Dice-K has suffered through injury, but still leads the league in winning percentage with a microscopic 2.65 ERA.

NL Cy Young

1. Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds; Volquez has held off rookie Cy Young opponent Tim Lincecum for another week, still ranking in the top five in the league in wins, winning percentage, strikeouts, SO/9 IP, and leads the league in ERA.

2. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants; Lincecum remains close behind, leading the league in strikeouts while ranking in the top five in ERA, SO/0 IP, wins, and winning percentage.

3. Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks; Haren has really come into his own in the National League. He now leads the league in SO/BB ratio, while trailing Volquez only in ERA.

4. Ben Sheets, Milwaukee Brewers; Sheets finds himself scratching and clawing in a tight NL Cy Young race. He leads the league in complete games, while ranking in the top five in ERA, winning percentage, WHIP, shutouts and SO/BB ratio.

5. Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks; Webb edges some other close challengers for the final spot in the top five on the NL Cy Young leader boards by leading the league in wins, while ranking in the top six in the league in winning percentage, WHIP, complete games and shutouts.

July 17, 2008 - Baseball at the Break: Mid-season Awards

Now that Major League Baseball's annual All-Star break is drawing to a conclusion, it's time to reflect upon the first half and hand out some awards.

American League Most Valuable Player

Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins; Let's be honest here: The Twins' lineup is everything but stellar on the whole. Yet at the All-Star Break, it ranks in the top four in runs and batting average. How? The pieces have fallen into place in the state of 10,000 lakes, due in no small portion to the bat of official Home Run Derby champion Justin Morneau. No newbie to the MVP award, Morneau's 146 adjusted OPS is actually better than the one he held in a better lineup in 2006, the last time the Twins headed to the playoffs as they're on the cusp of being on pace for now. Morneau ranks third in the A.L. in RBIs, a driving force (literally) towards the Twins' offense surprisingly ranking in the top third in the league in runs. He also ranks in the top five in the league in hits, total bases and adjusted OPS. There are few that have been more consistent and clutch than Morneau as well. He's held a batting average of at least .315 in each of the last three months and is hitting .355 in late and close situations.

Runner-up: J.D. Drew, Boston Red Sox.

American League Cy Young

Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians; Exactly one season after everything went wrong for Cliff Lee, everything is going right for the left-handed first-time All-Star. One year ago, Lee was pitching his way back to AAA ball in an injury-riddled campaign that featured a ghastly 6.29 ERA and sparked conversation as to whether he'd actually make the rotation this season. Now, Lee ranks in the top two in the A.L. in wins, winning percentage, SO/BB ratio and ERA and is fresh off representing the league as their starter in the All-Star Game Tuesday night.

Runner-up: Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays.

National League Most Valuable Player

Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals; Easy pickin' here. Pujols trails only Chipper Jones in BA and OBP, all while sporting his familiar stellar plate discipline (2:1 SO/BB ratio) and power (third in SLG%). He also holds the third highest adjusted OPS, all paying large dividends towards the surprising Cards holding the Wildcard lead in the midst of a tight, three-team N.L. Central race.

Runner-up: Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies.

National League Cy Young

Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds; Volquez takes the mid-season crown in a very tight N.L. Cy Young race, a contest headlined by two sensational rookies. Volquez has proven to as good of trade compensation as imaginable for a slugger like Josh Hamilton, leading the league in ERA and ranking in the top five in wins, winning percentage and strikeouts. And this is all as a rookie in one of baseball's most offensive parks.

Runner-up: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants.

American League Rookie-of-the-Year

Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays; Longoria has lived up to both his hype and the superiority of his name, erasing a slow start to be named to the first of many Home Run Derby contests and All-Star games. Longoria is showing the five-tool talent that scouts raved over as a productive force in a young and talented Rays offense.

Runner-up: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles.

National League Rookie-of-the-Year

Edinson Volquez, Reds; It's all been explained already. To be a top Cy Young candidate as a rookie in a major offensive park is truly amazing.

Runner-up: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants.

American League Manager-of-the-Year

Joe Madden, Tampa Bay Rays; The Rays have already surpassed their 2002 win total and have been the league's most surprising story in the first half.

Runner-up: Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins.

National League Manager-of-the-Year

Fredi Gonzalez, Florida Marlins; Despite the league-low payroll and Miguel Cabrera's off-season departure, the Marlins find themselves less than two games from the division lead in the traditionally-tight N.L. East race.

Runner-up: Lou Piniella, Chicago Cubs.

---Email thoughts, comments, and questions to natkins@spmsportspage.com---

June 17, 2008 - Weekly MVP/Cy Young leader boards

Here we go again, with the leaders, through Monday's games, in the MVP and Cy Young races in both leagues.

06-17-08 AL MVP

1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees - A-Rod makes his first appearance on the AL MVP leader boards after his surge since returning from injury. Since he returned on May 20, Rodriguez is batting .366 with 8 HRs and 5 SBs in 26 games, while walking more than striking out and contributing largely towards the Yankees' 17-9 spurt that has pushed them over the .500 mark. In his absence? The Yanks were an underwhelming 8-12. While his HRs and RBI numbers are down due to the time he's missed, his averages certainly aren't, as he ranks in the top five in the league in OBP, OPS and SLG%.

2. Grady Sizemore, Indians - Grady makes his first appearance on the leader boards as well, despite representing a losing (33-37) Cleveland Indians club. However, when you're completely carrying your offense the way Sizemore is, credit is deserved. Sizemore is stunningly on pace for basically a 40-40 season (43 HRs, 39 HRs). He ranks in the top five in the league in HRs, BBs, total bases and extra base hits while trailing only Josh Hamilton by one for the league lead in HRs. Oh, and this is all while hitting in a very struggling Indians offense (AL's worst team BA at .246), which he leads in every single category except batting average. His tear in June (.310, 7 HRs in 14 games) has led the Indians towards finally starting to turn the corner, having not lost a series in June.

3. Josh Hamilton, Rangers - Texas actually has three hitters that could all qualify for this spot, but the league's most consistent player in 2008 remains on the leader boards this week. Hamilton still leads the AL in hits, total bases, HRs and RBIs, while also ranking in the top five in runs, OPS, SLG% and extra-base hits.

06-17-08 NL MVP

1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals - Yes, Chipper Jones is still hitting .400. But Pujols' .347 BA (3rd in NL) is far from shabby as well. His BB-SO rate is over 2-1, which stands as the best in the league. His steady production despite nagging elbow issues has paced a Cardinals team that now finds themselves holding the third best record in baseball.

2. Chipper Jones, Braves - You still can't deny what Chipper's doing with his .403 BA. Unfortunately for him, the Braves' offense is simply middle-of-the-pack and the team is sub-.500. This only makes Chipper's production more impressive, as he leads the league in BA, OBP and hits, while ranking in the top five in OPS and SLG%.

3. Chase Utley, Phillies - Utley edges out his own teammate, Pat Burrell, for the final spot on the NL MVP leader boards. Utley leads the league in HRs and RBIs, while still holding a hefty BA of .303---at 2B. Utley has paced the NL's top offense and has led the Phillies towards holding first place in the the NL East.

06-17-08 AL Cy Young

1. Cliff Lee, Indians - Lee continues his unbeaten streak on top of the AL Cy Young leader boards by leading the league in wins, while holding a place in the top five in each of the following categories: winning percentage, WHIP, BBs/9 IP, ERA, complete games, shutouts, and SO/BB ratio. Once again, there's not much to argue with here.

2. Shawn Marcum, Blue Jays - I suppose you could call this the year of the surprise pitchers in the AL (Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana, and John Danks would join this group). Marcum leads the league in ERA and WHIP, while ranking in the top five in SOs and SO/9IP. If not for his lack-luster run support, he may have the record to challenge Lee for the top spot.

3. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox - This is probably the most difficult decision I've made with the leader boards yet, picking Dice-K over the steady veteran Roy Halladay. I guess you can't really ignore Dice-K's perfect 8-0 record. He ranks in the top five in the league in wins, winning percentage, and ERA, and just outside in SOs and SO/9IP.

06-17-08 NL Cy Young

1. Edinson Volquez, Reds - Like his trade counterpart on the other end, Josh Hamilton, Volquez has dominated thus far, despite pitching as a rookie in the league's top hitter's park. Volquez leads the league in ERA, SOs, and SO/9IP by huge margins. Once again, Volquez is the unquestioned leader of the NL Cy Young leader boards.

2. Tim Lincecum, Giants - Once again, two rookies hold down the top two spots. Lincecum is continuing his wicked pace, leading the league in winning percentage while ranking in the top five in ERA, wins, SOs, and SO/9IP. What's most impressive may be that he's 8-1 with the Giants' offense as his run support.

3. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks - Webb barely edges out Ben Sheets, who has very identical averages, for the final spot on the Cy Young leader boards in the NL. Webb leads all of baseball in wins with 11, while also leading the NL in WHIP. In the NL, he also ranks in the top five in ERA, winning percentage, SO/BB ratio, complete games and shutouts.

Looking Ahead

From here on out, I'll be focus solely on the MLB with this blog, mainly due to time restraints and to make for an evenly-distributed flow alongside David Geller's NFL-only blog, "My View From the Cheap Seats." In doing so, I'll focus more on the MLB than I have, which includes expanding the field of MVP/Cy Young leader boards from top 3 to top 5, coming next Monday.

On Friday, I'll post my picks for the All-Star teams, based on data collected through that date.

Comments

As always, questions, comments, or just casual discussion on anything I post here is more than welcome via email. Send me one at natkins@spmsportspage.com.

June 16, 2007 - The Heap of Trouble that is the NBA

I can't even pretend to act surprised at the words of former NBA referee Tom Donaghy, an admitted skewer of the game's integrity, when he came out to say that there are many other refs around the league that have done just as he has---tainted games.

The officiating in the playoffs this season alone sure leave a lot to be desired. Game 3 of the NBA Finals sure comes to mind. So many games this post-season have received the true, tainted home court advantage---where, magically, the home team winds up going to the line a billion times more than the visitors.

Clearly, whether Donaghy's allegations are true or, as David Stern tries to convince us, not...the NBA sure has its problems. When the Lakers can go from being far over the cap to adding Pau Gasol, you know something isn't quite right.

June 13, 2008 - Griffey's Milestone

I know, I know. Back-to-back weeks I've missed posting my weekly MVP leaders. Unfortunately, time just hasn't been on my side, though you can expect the leader boards to return for next Monday.

What's more frustrating is that I actually had a long post typed out regarding Griffey's 600th and the NBA officiating scandal, until it closed out on me and deleted everything. It's not been my day.

To make up for it, I'll make a shorter, two-segment focus on it all, starting with Griffey today and the officiating tomorrow.

Griffey hits home #600

Just like with his 500th HR, this milestone was worth the wait. Griffey now joins the likes of Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa in the 600-club. An impressive group, especially considering he's in there with Aaron, Ruth and Mays as guys who did it in legit fashion. Good for Junior.

This question is raised all the time regarding "The Kid," but his recent entrance into elite status begs it once more: Where would Griffey rank on the HR charts had his career not been hit so hard with injuries?

There are different ways to look about it. It's been said that he's missed the equivalence of 2.5 MLB seasons, which is pretty accurate. I like to look at his "full" seasons as being ones that demanded play in 140 games, which he did 10 times in 19 years of play. That means eight seasons were called short due to injury, seeing as his lack of games in his rookie season can be attributed to the fact that...well, he was a rookie. His HR average in those seasons is 40.

So if we apply his HR average in those seasons to the 2.5 years he missed, then it could be said that he missed out on 99 HRs, basically putting him in the 700 club of Aaron, Bonds and Ruth. However, the time he missed was mainly in his prime, whereas the average I threw out there included his first few seasons in which he averaged just 24 HRs a year.

For example, Griffey's first true injury-riddled season took place in 1995. This was one year after he completed back-to-back 40-HR campaigns despite playing just 111 games in 1994. The next five seasons he played without injury, and he averaged 50 HRs a season in. Then he missed significant time in his next six seasons (all in Cincinnati), including three seasons in which he played in half or fewer of the regular season.

If you lay out his HR pace in each injury-riddled season over the course of 151 games (the average in his "full" seasons), it could be said that he missed out on 109 HRs, putting him very near Babe Ruth for 3rd all-time.

Even this method is inaccurate, as he battled injury in the times in which he did play and his performance was clearly affected by it, as indicated by his huge drops in BA and HR average.

All in all, nobody will ever know the true ending to Griffey's "What If?" tale. What we all do know is that he missed out on over 100 HRs due to injury and regardless of it all, will still be remembered as one of the better players America's Past Time has ever seen.

Griffey's lost HRs his own fault?

As many have attested to, Griffey often showed laziness in preparation for play throughout his career. Many attribute his injuries to his lack of lifting weights and stretching. Anyone who's played sports can attest to the negative effects of neglecting either.

It could well be said that Griffey really has nobody but himself to blame for his struggles with injuries.

However, I can't help but feel mesmerized that he was able to average 50 HRs for a five-year span in his prime while being incapable of giving directions to the nearest weight room.

It puts quite a twist on the whole "What If?" tale. Not only do you wonder "What If" Griffey had done the appropriate things (lifting, stretching) to prevent injuries...what would his HR totals be, even with the injuries, had he lifted throughout his career?

50 HRs a year is impressive for someone who didn't use performance enhancers or lifting.

Where does he go from here?

His name is still popping up in trade rumors everywhere, especially with the emergence of rookie Jay Bruce (.391 through 17 games) as the center fielder of the future in the Great American Ballpark. Griffey's age will obviously continually limit his ability in the field, making the notion for a move to a DH role in the American League a suitable one.

The team that keeps popping up is one of a storybook nature: Seattle. Griffey has said he would like to return to the club he started his career with, and the Mariners could sure use a DH.

An interesting trade proposal was the one Sports Illustrated had in their MLB season preview early last spring: Griffey for Kenji Johjima. The idea was obviously that the Reds would dish out Griffey as has been rumored, make room for Bruce in CF, and potentially "solve" their problems at Catcher for the time being. For Seattle, they could bring back Griffey into a role they could really use production in, all while making room for top prospect Jeff Clement at Catcher. This was about the best proposal I've heard for a Griffey trade, and one that, on paper, would work out for both teams.

Who knows how it'll happen now, with both Griffey and Johjima struggling mightily, as I suspected would happen. However, if the Reds are out of it by the trade deadline (which is likely) you'd think they'd look to net prospects or young players in return for Griffey rather than an aging, declining Catcher on a new deal. At the same time, the Mariners could be in a similar boat by the deadline, but to a different extent: the talent is certainly there in Seattle, but injuries and a lack of offense have hurt them. With the young nucleus they have as a pitching rotation, along with a guy like J.J. Putz closing games, they can certainly look to contend next season should they be out of things this season.

Maybe the Reds will be a possibility to contend for the playoffs next season, if their strong youth progresses. Dusty Baker has shown to be a win-now manager, so maybe you can't rule out them bringing in Johjima to see if he can provide some help at a position of need.

Either way, I would bet towards Griffey being dealt to the AL by the deadline.

May 26, 2008: Weekly MVP and Cy Young Leaderboards, along with other babbles

Here we go again with my updated rankings of MVP and Cy Young leaders in each league:

.05.26.08 AL MVP

1. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers – No change in the AL leader this week, as Hamilton keeps up his destructive batting pace. He still ranks in the top three in the league in BA, HRs, RBIs, SLG%, OPS, hits and total bases. He’s been the unquestioned leader of the AL’s top offense that has carried the Rangers to a .500 record despite ranking 12th in ERA.
2. Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox – Quentin makes his entrance onto the MVP leader boards, now leading the league in home runs and OPS, while ranking in the top five in OBP, RBIs and total bases, all while hitting in a lineup that has exactly one other guy (Jermaine Dye) hitting worth half his bill. The result? The White Sox currently lead the AL Central by 2.5 games.
3. Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians – The offense-less nature of the American League thus far has kept Lee on the MVP leader boards. His win on Saturday ended the Tribe’s seven-game losing streak, and despite the Indians now being four games under .500, Lee is 7-1. Oh, and he still leads the league in ERA by a whopping margin, while also ranking in the top five in WHIP, SO/BB ratio, wins and winning percentage.

.05.26.08 NL MVP

1. Lance Berkman, Houston Astros – It’s definitely not as clear cut as last week, but Berkman still holds the top spot as it pertains to the NL MVP. He’s still leading the league in HRs, RBIs, SLG%, OPS, total bases and extra-base hits. On top of that, he’s already set his career high for stolen bases with 10, all contributing largely towards the Astros playing surprising ball at six games over the .500 mark.
2. Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves – It’s still a three-horse race for this title. Jones is now destroying the competition in BA, while also leading the league in OBP and hits. He easily leads the Braves in every hitting category, guiding them to competing very strongly in the tight NL East.
3. Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins – No joke: the Marlins are still leading the NL East and Dan Uggla is still tearing the cover off the baseball. He’s now tied with Berkman for the league lead in HRs with 16, while ranking in the top five in SLG%, OPS, total bases and extra-base hits, all while hitting in a very average lineup.

.05.26.08 AL Cy Young

1. Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians – Still no hint towards change. See above for numbers.
2. Daisuke Matsuzaka – Not surprising here either. Dice-K remains undefeated while leading the league in wins (8-0) and ranking third in ERA (2.40). He still must control those walks to challenge Lee for the top spot.
3. Roy Halladay, Toronto – Halladay just can’t buy luck, can he? Somehow he has five complete games (five times as many as anyone not named James Shields), but is just 5-5. I guess that’s what happens you receive the run support (or lack thereof) that the Blue Jays are providing. Nonetheless, record is the only thing keeping Doc Holliday back, as he leads the AL in SO/BB ratio, innings and walks/9 IP, while posting a very respectable 3.11 ERA and 0.975 WHIP.

.05.26.08 NL Cy Young

1. Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds – So far, the Reds-Rangers trade is working out superbly for both sides, as both Volquez and Josh Hamilton are topping the leader boards in NL Cy Young and AL MVP, respectively. Volquez still leads the league in ERA by a long shot, while also leading the league in SOs and SO/9 IP. Like Dice-K, walks remain his only concern, but what more can you ask from this 7-1 rookie pitching in the league’s premier hitter’s park and for the last-place Reds?
2. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants – The rookies continue to lead the Cy Young ‘boards. Despite pitching for the offensively-challenged Giants, Lincecum is 6-1 with a 2.17 ERA. He’s continuing his nasty command, with 69 SOs in 62 1/3 innings, the second best only to Master Volquez.
3. Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks – Webb completes the Cy Young trio that witnessed no change over the last week. Webb finally lost a decision, but he’s still a wild 9-1, leading the league in wins and winning percentage. He also holds a 2.69 ERA. There’s a reason the Diamondbacks have the best record in baseball, and it starts with pitching…which starts with Webb.

Rocky Mountain trade rumors: Sane or senile?

The biggest trade rumors out there are regarding the Rockies with sluggers Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday, as reported by multiple sources including the Denver Post. Another name being thrown around in trade speculation is closer Brian Fuentes.

The Rockies understand their small market limitations and realize that while these guys are not in their contract years, their contracts will expire fairly soon and the Rox will be unable to resign all of them. I respect that they're taking the smart route and realizing that contending strong for a tight division built on pitching when you have no pitching isn't the safest of bets, especially when they've toyed with mediocrity for years outside of last year's magic spell. They screwed themselves with building for offense only and know they may be losing ace Jeff Francis after this season. Moving Atkins makes sense, as his deal can demand starting pitching pieces of the future and his production away from Coors Field could be replaced by Ian Stewart, a slick-fielding 3B they've kept waiting in the wings with Atkins on board.

What makes no sense to me is the idea to move Holliday. I don't care how much of a hitter's park Coors Field is, you're not going to get anywhere near the production that Holliday brings for under top dollar, not to mention he adds quality speed and defense. Holliday is a young centerpiece meant to be kept as a focal point of stability.

Moving Fuentes probably isn't the best route either, as the last way to fill holes is by creating more.

Quick Hits: NBA Playoffs Edition

• The Celtics have finally done it: They've finally won a road game in the playoffs. It took them seven tries, but the monkey is off their back...for the time being. In the end, as I've said already, the Pistons do not have an answer for premier post threats like Kevin Garnett, and it's shown thus far. Who was the last team to play in the Final without post presence?
• Welcome, Lake Show, to the group known as the rest of the NBA that has been unable to find an answer for Manu Ginobli on the perimeter. The Spurs may be aging and slowing down, but you can't triple team three guys. One of them is going to make you pay.
• I just want to go back for a minute to my comments a while back on the point guard play in the NBA playoffs. One guy you simply cannot lump into that group of patchy point guards on the road (Delonte West, Rajon Rondo, Tony Parker) is Chris Paul. Paul's 2008 post season is, for me, better than what Parker did last season in the NBA Finals. Unlike Parker, Paul didn't have as much creation in the paint and his work was sustained through two series, including one seven-gamer, rather than Parker's four-game trip. Paul ended the post season averaging 24 points and 11 assists, all while shooting over 50% from the floor. Move over, Steve Nash: We have a new #1 point guard in town.

^Got Comments? Click thy name and speak thy word^

05-21-2008 - Cavs-Celtics; Did I have to watch?

All right, finally it's time to reflect on the series that were, one-by-one, with more coming on later days.

Cavs-Celtics: Slop-o-rama!

The play in game seven of this neck-and-neck, home-dominated Eastern Conference Semi-Finals series more or less maximized the story of the series: and boy, was it ugly to watch.

Maybe the reasoning for the disparity between the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference lies in the foregrounds: coaching. At least this series would leave you to believe so with what Doc Rivers and Mike Brown displayed.

I don't know if I've ever seen a Game 7 so horrifically managed in my life, from Rivers expecting to throw a one-on-one coverage on LeBron in a Game 7 and contain him like he has for the majority of this series to Brown opting for the offensively-inept Sasha Pavlovic (who wound up with more fouls than combined rebounds and assists) and Ben Wallace (he's known as a "defensive specialist" for a reason) with everything on the line when the Cavs must score to survive.

Seriously...you've got LeBron manning the offense in a one-point game with less than two minutes remaining, and having finally added surrounding talent via last-minute trade after years of futility in doing so, you're going to ask him to finish things off with the likes of Pavlovic, Wallace, and Damon Jones as his complements?

Arguably the worst coaching mistake of the series was the one completed consistently by both sides: terrible use of timeouts. This will be known as a series of runs for a reason: the opposing coaches did nothing to prevent it. The two are known as two of the worst in-game adjusters in the league, and it came to play once again, waiting until the opponent reels off runs in excesses of 10+ points before calling a TO to get things in order. And the offensive solutions by these coaches at the end of games? Jack up three's on bad looks.

I can at least applaud the Celtics for finishing Game 7 like champions: by making their free throws. It's so often said that free throws are killer in the long run come tournament time in basketball, and that surely was the case Sunday, as the Celtics catapulted themselves into the Eastern Conference Finals by cashing in at the charity stripe, hitting 6-of-6 free throws in the final thirty seconds of play. I'll applaud them as champions, however, when they prove they can play on the road in the playoffs, nearly eminent to land the NBA crown.

^Got comments? Click thy name and speak thy word^

05-20-08 - Weekly MVP and Cy Young Leaderboards

I know I promised an update (including my updated rankings of MVP and Cy Young candidates in both leagues) yesterday, but if time was money yesterday, I’d be as poor as it gets.

Anyway, here they are, a day late, with numbers updated through Monday’s play. I’m only going three-deep until after the All-Star break, when things start to solidify:

05.20.08 AL MVP Leaders

1. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers – Yes, I understand the Rangers are playing 3rd place, sub-.500 ball right now. But I’ve always been an advocate of Most Valuable Player awards centering around…well, value. Hamilton has fueled a Rangers’ offense that is thus far carrying the team to near .500 and still just four games out of first place, despite having a pitching staff that ranks 13th out of 14 AL teams in ERA. And in the end, it’s hard to discredit the one guy tearing the cover off the ball in the AL this year, leading the league in HRs, RBIs, slugging percentage, total bases and extra-base hits, while also ranking in the top five in the league in batting average, OPS and hits.
2. Kevin Youklis, Boston Red Sox – Yeah, Youklis has had plenty of talent surrounding him. But the AL-leading Red Sox have been paced by the play of this consistent, slick-fielding first baseman. Youklis seems to have added some real pop to his arsenal thus far with 9 HRs and a .602 SLG%, while also leading the league in batting average.
3. Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians – Go ahead and laugh at a pitcher making the top three in an MVP list. But it’s not only early, the league has thus far been dominated by pitching, and who has been more dominant than Lee? This 6-1 lefty’s astronomical pitching numbers (1.37 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 9.20 strikeout-walk ratio---all league bests by a long shot) have paid large dividends towards the slow-hitting Indians returning to .500 and sitting just a game and a half out of first place. It’s also a great story, as Lee was demoted to AAA ball last season and a question mark entering this one to even make the team rotation.

05.20.08 NL MVP Leaders

1. Lance Berkman, Houston Astros – Despite how oddly offensive the National League has been thus far (a stunning foil to the AL’s hitless state), is there really any argument here? Berkman ranks in the top three in the National League in nearly every major offensive category while leading in eight categories, all contributing towards the Houston Astros competing strong in the tough NL Central.
2. Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins – Surprise, surprise. The last sentence can be applied to either Uggla’s performance thus far, or how his team is currently leading the NL East. Uggla has provided his usual dose of power (13 HRs, 31 RBIs, .671 SLG%), but has really picked his game up in terms of walks (20) and batting average (.316). This is all while hitting in a lineup that currently ranks 8th in runs scored.
3. Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves – Some close candidates here, but I simply cannot ignore what Chipper is doing this season offensively. Despite hitting in a lineup that doesn’t even rank in the top half of the league, Jones has torn it up so far, batting a jaw-dropping .410 while leading---no, more like carrying---the Braves in almost every single offensive category, resulting in Atlanta still being in the thick of a very tight and tough NL East race. To date, nobody has been more consistent than Mr. Jones.

.05.20.08 AL Cy Young Leaders

1. Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians – Again, no surprise here. The numbers have been mentioned, and they’ve simply been unrivaled so far by the first pitcher since the great Bob Gibson to hold an ERA under 1.00 through his first seven starts.
2. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox – Dice-K is finally living up to the expectations set by his contract…so far. The Japanese dealer is the only starting pitcher left in the AL with an undefeated record (7-0) while also leading the league in wins. The numbers under his control are stellar as well, including the second-best ERA (2.15). Matsuzaka’s problem so far has been his control, but if he can cut down on his walks, maybe---just maybe---Lee won’t be the only pitcher talked about night and day.
3. Ervin Santana, Los Angeles Angels – This is a very tough pick, with no pitcher really standing out from the rest of the pack, but the final spot on the leader board for me is yet another feel-good story so far in 2008. Also demoted from the rotation last year, Santana has joined Lee in that he’s finally putting everything together, hosting a 6-1 record with a great 2.97 ERA and, unlike in the past, lots of control with just 13 walks in almost 61 innings.

.05.20.08 NL Cy Young Leaders

1. Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds – Who would’ve thought that not only would a Reds pitcher be atop the Cy Young standings past the first month…it’d be the rookie they received in the criticized trade that sent Josh Hamilton to the Rangers? Volquez has simply been jaw-dropping so far, leading the league in ERA despite pitching in one of the biggest hitters’ parks in the game while also going 7-1 despite pitching on a team buried at the bottom of the NL Central. Add that to his fantastic command numbers (10.27 SO/9 innings) and it spells the NL Cy Young leader nearing the end of May.
2. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants – Is the National League the year of the rookie pitchers, maybe? Lincecum has flown under the radar playing for the offensively-inept Giants but still holds a 5-1 record to complement his sub-2.00 ERA (1.92) and positive SO/IP mark (10.07 SO/9IP).
3. Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks – We can’t forget about the underrated, lone undefeated NL pitcher from Arizona can we? Webb’s 2.56 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP (0.995) have resulted in winning each of his nine starts.

Quick Hits

In fear of making a blog entry too long to read in one lifetime, I'll save my thoughts on the NBA playoffs until tomorrow.

^Got comments? Click thy name and speak thy word.^

May 15, 2008 - Playoff Tidbits

Embrace yourselves for a lengthy blog entry, as there is a lot to cover regarding the NBA playoffs with this being my first official entry.

Is home court advantage really that much of a factor?

I'm sorry, but I can't help but feel nauseates watching the execution and composure of road teams this post season.

To date, road teams are a ghastly 12-52 in the playoffs. You have teams like the Boston Celtics, who held the best overall and road records in the regular season, going 7-0 at home and 0-5 on the road in the post season to date. The Lakers look like a model of the dynasty teams of old, until they seemingly hit a wall in Utah and appear to be a different team all over again. The Hornets are able to blow out the Spurs at home and raise questions about a power shift in the Western Conference, until the tables turn in San Antonio and the Spurs look refreshed and poised once again.

The biggest difference I noticed in play from home to road is ball movement. This has been particularly evident in the Cavs-Celtics series, where you see Boston's constant passing driving guys out of position on the perimeter to allow for open looks or even more critical, driving Ben Wallace out of position on Kevin Garnett to allow for an easy Garnett outlet score. That's at home. On the road, the Cavs return to looking ferocious on the defensive end and Boston---in particular, distributer Rajon Rondo---looking lost offensively. On the flip side, the Cavs are able to dictate the pace of the game at home with crisp, efficient passing until an open man---be it on the perimeter or in the post---is found for an easy score. On the road, they return to the pre-trade days of sloppy, turnover-happy play.

It’s also been evident – quite obviously – in assist numbers by point guards. For example, at home Tony Parker averaged over 9 assists in two Spurs victories. On the road, Parker is averaging just 4 assists in three Spurs losses.

Teams simply look dumbstruck on the road this season, lacking any and all composure. Maybe this means the regular season matters a lot after all.

Western Conference teams employing the zero-tolerance policy with coaches

Two years ago, Avery Johnson and Mike D’Antoni were considered two of the better, up-and-coming coaches in the NBA. Now, both have hit the road. Both bit the dust after grumbles of underperformance and inability to live up to expectations (Yes, I realize D’Antoni left voluntarily, but anytime you leave your current post to head to the New York Knicks, there’s obviously something very wrong), which really begs the question: Did Johnson and D’Antoni deserve to be ousted, or were the Mavs and Suns simply acting on a scapegoat to ease over the effects of poor trades?

Or better yet…is it justifiable to oust a coach for failing to win in the playoffs in the tough-as-nails Western Conference?

I think it’s clear both front offices felt the need for change throughout the organization, and who better to shoulder the blame than America’s favorite scapegoats?

Evening the score

While we’re talking trades, I have to give credit where it’s due, and that’s the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office for their ripping-off of Memphis to land Pau Gasol (a deal that was largely forgotten in the MVP voting, though Kobe Bryant can’t be complaining). The Lakers are now a team poised for a championship run in the thick Western Conference, as opposed to the chemistry-less, uninspiring crew they were before the move since Shaq’s departure. Rebounding is a huge asset to have come playoff time, and Gasol adds that along with a reliable scoring option for Kobe. The addition of another All-Star allows for other players to flourish, such as we saw with Odom’s clutch performance to seal the deal in a Game 5 Lakers victory.

It’s still probably too early to judge the Cavs trade that landed Delonte West, Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and Wally Szczerbiak, but the results so far have looked impressive. LeBron has his spot-up shooters to deliver on his drive-to-the-basket passes and the much-needed post defense is present. The frontcourt has thickened in depth, allowing aging veterans to succeed in diminished roles. How else is LeBron able to shoot just over 40% through five games and the Cavs are still in the series?

And while Kyle Korver hasn’t done a lot for Utah yet, the asset of an extra reliable spot-up shooter on the perimeter certainly can’t hurt.

A Pistons win, or a Magic loss?

I’ll admit it: I was among those drinking the Dwight Howard Kool-Aide this post season. I took the bait on the prospect of Dwight Howard carrying his regular-season post dominance into the series against a team lacking post presence and, at least in the Flip Saunders era, the ability to live up to expectations. I guess one could say Howard isn’t quite ready for prime time.

This isn’t to say he should shoulder a lot of blame for the loss: it’s kind of difficult to penetrate a top-notch defense when you lack precision distribution. The Magic took the “Feed Superman” approach of dishing the ball to Howard in the post and hoping he delivers, and he can’t be expected to carry the team.

I think post presence is huge in the post season, however it certainly can’t be the only asset. Patrick Ewing knows all about trying to carry a team in the post season in one-dimensional fashion. Howard showed some dominance in stretches, but he also poured out more poor performances than bright ones. This type of offense isn’t going to get it done against a veteran defense like what the Pistons have to offer, and therefore didn’t.

In the end, you have to give credit to a team that’s the first since the Show Time Lakers to reach the conference finals in six straight seasons. Now, let’s see if Saunders can reach his first NBA Finals.

In other news…Triumphant Tribe Tosser Tidbits

Even in a blog intended to center around the NBA playoffs, I can’t go without mentioning the feat the Cleveland Indians’ starting rotation claimed this week. Their jaw-dropping scoreless innings by starters streak ended yesterday at 44 2/3---albeit in a one-run, seven-inning gem thrown by Aaron Laffey. You decide which of the following feats by the staff is the most impressive:

• Six Indians starters have started at least four games this season. Reigning Cy Young-winner C.C. Sabathia is the only one without an ERA under 4.00.

• Four starters hold ERAs under 3.00.

• Three starters hold ERAs under 2.50.

• Speaking of Sabathia, his line after the four ghastly starts to open the season? A 1.49 ERA, over 9 strikeouts/9 innings, and a 43/8 strikeout/walk ratio.

• Josh Beckett ranks second in baseball in strikeout/walk ratio. Go ahead and triple it. Nope, you still don’t have Cliff Lee’s strikeout/walk ratio.

• In a three-day span from May 12-14, the Tribe rotation threw three 9-inning shutouts.

• Aaron Laffey now holds a 1.35 ERA after four starts, and he’s not even in the regular rotation.

• The Indians lead all of baseball in starters’ ERA at 2.96. The next best rotation? Oakland at 3.46---exactly half a run worse.

This has all obviously factored into the Indians breaking out with eight wins in their last ten games to put them atop the AL Central. And considering the Indians don't rank in the top 20 in either bullpen ERA or runs scored, it's pretty clear the rotation is completely carrying this club right now.

Looking Ahead...

Each Monday, I will release my updated list ranking the current MVP and Cy Young candidates in both the American and National Leagues. Check back then, as I'll also provide my resurfaced thoughts on the NBA playoffs.

May 13, 2008 - Time for an Introduction

Greetings from the Lake! Well, sort of.

I’m actually south of Lake Erie but still central in northeastern Ohio. However, I am a Clevelander by birth.

Despite my Cleveland roots, this blog will focus on the world of sports in general, with a large emphasis on the big three (NFL, NBA and MLB). As the Assistant Editor of an up-and-coming Cleveland Browns website (which I may introduce once it reaches completion), it’s great to have the opportunity to expand my writing horizons to other levels with sports I love to observe on a daily basis.

This should be a fairly regular blog, particularly with the regularity in MLB regular season and NBA playoff scheduling that we’re witnessing at the present time. Hopefully, this will keep up for a long time.

Anything I post is more than open to public criticism and commentary, so feel free to email me your thoughts or questions at natkins@spmsportspage.com.