Things to Watch for this Upcoming MLB Season
Some Intriguing Thoughts for the 2009 Baseball Season
Mar 20, 2009 Derek J Griebenow
Ken Griffey Jr. is back home after a rough 8½ seasons in Cincinnati, and forty-one games with the White Sox to end 2008. Griffey is 39, but a DH role may keep him healthy unlike in the past, and he should still have some pop in his swing.
Between 1989 and 1999 with Seattle, Junior was arguably the best player in baseball; winning 10 gold gloves for his play in center field, and hitting 398 home runs. He was also named the A.L. Season MVP in 1997 and named to the All-Century team in 1999.
Expecting Griffey to come back and hit forty home runs may be too much, but maybe 20-25 with 100 RBI isn't. As mentioned, playing mostly as a designated hitter could give him enough at-bats to show his tank isn't empty just yet.
Brewers Rotation Weakened by Loss of Ben Sheets
The “Brew Crew” decided not to resign Sheets after the 2008 season, and with good cause; Sheets cannot stay healthy. Over the last few years he's missed starts with hamstring, finger, and elbow injuries. Last season, Sheets seemed on his way to pitch 200+ innings (something he hasn't done since 2004, 237 IP), before an injured hamstring shelved him for the remainder of the season.
On February 13, 2009, Sheets underwent surgery on his right throwing elbow, placing his career in jeopardy. The Rangers offered a two-year deal until they found out he needed the surgery, but Sheets is rehabbing with a Rangers doctor; mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jspit'll be interesting to see what transpires there.
As for Milwaukee, they'll be counting on a mix of young and old arms to carry their rotation in 2009. Twenty-three year-old Jovani Gallardo is penciled in as the ace to replace Sheets. He's made 21 career starts with a 9-4 record and a 3.38 ERA; not bad. Recent surgeries on both knees limited Gallardo to just four starts in '08. He is completely healthy now and ready for a break-out year.
The order of the rotation behind Gallardo is unclear, veterans Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan, and free-agent signee; Braden Looper, will all try to stay ahead of young left hander Manny Parra. Seth McClung may also get a turn in the rotation. Parra played solid in his first major stint in the bigs, starting 29 games and finishing 10-8 with 147 strikeouts; look for him to land behind Gallardo by mid-season.
The bottom line is that the rotation is in flux and may contribute to a losing season for the Brewers if they can't get consistency from their starters; or an offensive explosion. An injury to any starter would also doom the team. Look for the team to be very busy around the July trade deadline.
Is the Rangers Josh Hamilton for Real?
The feel good story of 2008 was center fielder Josh Hamilton. Drafted number one in 1999 by the Tampa Bay Rays, Hamilton bounced around the minors and rehab until landing with the Reds in 2007.
After a car crash in 2001 left him injured, he started experimenting with crack-cocaine. After multiple stints in rehab, he finally got clean and made the Reds roster. In 90 games with the Reds, Hamilton batted .292 with 19 HR and 47 RBI, needing pitching, the Reds trade Josh to the Rangers following the season.
The trade to Texas was the best thing that could have happened, Josh got the starting center field job and emerged as a star. In 2008 he batted .304 with 32 HR and 130 RBI, and landed a spot on the All-Star team. Hamilton also put on a show during the All-Star Game Home Run Derby, belting the second most HR in derby history with 35 (41 is the record set by Bobby Abreu in 2005).
Hamilton showed his career potential in 2008, and in a time of steroid accusations you can bet he's clean. Hamilton still surrenders to random drug testing due to past drug abuse. Enjoy watching a legit, CLEAN power hitter, he may soon become the best player in Major League Baseball.
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