Nlds 2011

Monday, June 1, 2015

2015 MLB season-observations from the first 50 games of the season

The first 50 games of the 2015 MLB season have been entertaining and exciting.
They've featured some teams and players exceeding expectations while other teams and players not living up to expectations.
Some of the most hyped young prospects have gotten promoted to the show, especially on the north side of Chicago.
Like always, there have been injuries throughout the league, some worse than others.
Jarrod Parker,  trying to come back from TJ surgery, sustained a fracture of right medial epicondyle in a scary scene.
A ton of pitchers are either trying to come back from TJ surgery such as Jose Fernandez or have just gotten the surgery this year like Yu Darvish.

Here are some of the things that have stood out to me so far.
Bryce Harper is finally staying  healthy and living up to the expectations that people placed on him-he was on the SI cover as a 17 year old number one overall pick. He either leads or is at the top of the National league in homers, RBI, and batting average.
Image result for bryce harper

The Houston Astros are surprisingly off  to an amazing start-1st place in the AL west. They're leading the AL in homers and steals, but they're also last in strikeouts.
Another reason why they're winning is they have a left handed pitcher named Dallas Keuchal who's proving that last year was no fluke and that he's actually a legit pitcher.
They also have Jose Altuve, one of the best and most underrated players in the majors.
Finally, i think that AJ Hinch, their new manager, is doing a great job leading them.
They will get more help soon from Carlos Correa and Mark Appel-two former number one overall picks who are close to the majors.
The Minnesota Twins are also off to a tremendous start,led by a new manager Paul Moliter who happens to be a former player in Minnesota.
Like the Astros, the Twins weren't supposed to contend yet because their best prospect(Byron Buxton)  who happens to be the best prospect in the minor leagues is still in Double A.
They're scoring a lot of runs and their pitching is keeping them in the games and allowing their excellent closer Glen Perkins to close the game.
Miami went back to their befuddling ways as they were expected to contend this year, but they didn't start well so they fired their manager and then made their GM manager.

The SF Giants struggled to start the year while Hunter Pence (the man whom the giants call the reverend)was out all of April with a broken bone in his arm.
Once Pence returned and the calender turned to May, the Giants got on fire and are now in contention with the Dodgers for first place in the NL west.
The Washington Nationals with their mega rotation are rounding into form atop the NL east, but now Strausberg has some neck problems.

The A's have struggled all of this season so far as they are 13 games under 500 and have one of the worst records in the majors.
Most of the blame goes to the bullpen,  which has become way worse than last year,  and has the worst ERA in the majors,  and the defense which has made the most errors in baseball.
Sonny Gray, Billy Burns, and Stephen Vogt have been bright spots.
Sonny Gray-6-2 record, 2nd lowest ERA in the AL behind Dallas Keuchal.
Billy Burns-owner of a 327 average, he has taken over center field and the lead-off spot while poor Coco Crisp is experiencing more neck problems.
Stephen Vogt has a career high 11 homers and 38 rbi while playing outstanding defense.
I have hope that the A's will turn it around and get back in contention, but if they keep losing, Billy Beane will probably trade some of his players who are free agents after this year to a contending team.

Speaking of trades the Cole Hamels to Boston rumors keep swirling, but nothing has transpired yet because Boston doesn't want to give up all their best prospects for Hamels.
In Colorado people are speculating that CARGO (Carlos Gonzalez)  or Troy Tulowitski will be traded, but the problem is that these two studs always get injured badly which hurts their trade value.
If they did get traded, then they each would bring back a monumental return.
The trading deadline is 7/31 and other big names rumored to be on the maket are Johnny Cueto, and  Ryan Howard.
The Brewers and A's might trade a lot of people as well.

It has been an exciting first 50 games, and I can't wait to see what action unfolds over the rest of the long season,  which players move teams,  which teams eventually make it to the postseason, and what team can achieve the glory that comes with winning the world series.

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