I got a little too busy to finish up the final three teams yesterday so we’ll include their games yesterday into our little review here. Player stats won’t reflect the numbers just because Baseball Reference doesn’t have them up yet. Part I of this weeks review can be found here.
Chicago Cubs (39-38); Third Place -- 2.5 GB
Last Week’s Record: 5-3
Last Week’s Opponents: Chicago White Sox (1-2); Pittsburgh Pirates (2-1); Milwaukee Brewers (2-0)
Transactions:
Designated 3B Ryan Freel for Assignment.
Traded for UTI Jeff Baker for undisclosed compensation.
Optioned RHP Jose Ascanio to AAA-Iowa.
Recalled RHP Jeff Samardzija from AAA-Iowa.
Placed 2B Aaron Miles on 15 day DL with hyperextended right elbow.
Recalled OF Sam Fuld from AAA-Iowa.
Who’s Hot?:
Geovany Soto -- .308/.379/.654, 8 for 26, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Randy Wells -- 2-0, 14 IP, 3 ER, 10 K, 3 BB, .224 Opp. BA
Who was Not?:
Alfonso Soriano -- .167/.259/.250, 4 for 24, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Ryan Dempster -- 11.2 IP, 8 ER, 11 K, 5 BB, .407 Opp. OBP
The Cubs are dying for some offense. Derrick Lee and Jake Fox have really picked up the slack for the rest of the team, but when push comes to shove, the Cubs are always leaning their rotation. Not including yesterday’s game, the Cubs hit .235/.300/.402, which is pretty brutal, but they still managed to score four runs per game. Much of that average is a result of the nine runs they scored on Friday. Take that out of the equation and you’re looking at just a shade over three. However, the Cubs offense should get a huge boost in the next week or so as Aramis Ramirez is just about done with a rehab assignment for his ailing shoulder. If Aramis ends up producing even remotely close to what he was before the injury, the Cubs will surge in this weak division.
On the mound the Cubs continue to excel in their rotation and struggle when the bullpen hits. All the moves that Jim Hendry made in the off season were to fix the offense, but the band aid bullpen anchored by Kevin Gregg has really cost the Cubs a number of victories. Some good things have emerged though and all signs indicate the Cubs are anything but out of it. The biggest surprise has been the emergence of Randy Wells, who has been utterly dominant. The righty isn’t over powering, but he knows how to pitch and constantly pounds the strike zone. The bullpen has taken some of the load off of a struggling Carlos Marmol with the impressive performance of Angel Guzman. Pitching is never going to be a problem for this team, but as they get older on the offensive end, the young guys in the pen have to keep it together. They’ve done a good job of that so far.
Who’s Next?
The Cubs have two more day games against the Cubs, but haven’t been able to gain any ground on the first place Cardinals. From there they stay home for three more against the Atlanta Braves who are surging after sweeping the Phillies.
Houston Astros (38-40); Fifth Place -- 4.0 GB
Last Week’s Record: 5-3
Last Week’s Opponents: Detroit Tigers (2-1); San Diego Padres (3-1); San Francisco Giants (0-1)
Transactions:
Claimed 2B German Duran off of waivers from Texas Rangers.
Activated LHP Mike Hampton from 15 day DL.
Optioned LHP Wesley Wright to AAA-Round Rock
Activated 3B Geoff Blum from 15 day DL.
Optioned INF Edwin Maysonet to AAA-Round Rock.
Activated RHP Felipe Paulino from 15 day DL.
DFA’d RHP Brandon Backe.
Who’s Hot?:
Lance Berkman -- .455/.552/.727, 10 for 22, 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI
Roy Oswalt -- 1-0, 9.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Who was Not?:
Michael Bourn -- .167/.167/.250, 4 for 24, 2 2B, 4 RBI
With the exception of Paulino’s start last night, nobody is truly cold
And so here they come. The Astros have the tendency to be a pretty awful team the first half of the season, but they always suddenly turn it around. I get the feeling this week was that time. Lance Berkman’s slow start is reverting to the mean and MIguel Tejada’s stellar season doesn’t look like it’s going to cool off any time soon. On top of that Hunter Pence has bounced back from a sub-par sophomore season and is back to being the .300+ hitter the Astros thought he would be. Toss in another solid season from Carlos Lee and this offense is going to put some hurtin’ on folks.
On the mound Houston is making yet another turn around. Roy Oswalt had a tough start to the season, but finished this week up with a two hit one run game. Picking up his slack was Wandy Rodriguez. The lefty has been solid through and through. He has hit a few speed bumps the last couple weeks or so, but it was the right time for the rest of the staff to pick him up. The bullpen has left something to be desired, but Jose Valverde has returned from the disabled list, meaning the Astros no longer have to close by committee. Valverde failed in his first chance back, but has been better since and should give Cecil Cooper some options in high leverage situations earlier in the game. Don’t be surprised to see the Astros make a move in the next few weeks provided the All-Star Break doesn’t throw a wrench into their system.
Who’s Next:
After losing 13-0 to Ryan Sadowski (There’s that guy again), the Astros finish up a three game set in San Francisco before flying back home for three against the Pirates. They’ll finish up the week by completing their suspended game against the Nationals and starting their four gamer later that night.
Pittsburgh Pirates (37-43); Sixth - 6.0 GB
Last Week’s Record: 4-4
Last Week’s Opponents: Kansas City Royals (2-1); Chicago Cubs (1-2); New York Mets (0-1); Florida Marlins (1-0)
Transactions:
Called up OF Jeff Salazar from AAA-Indianapolis.
Traded CF Nyjer Morgan and LHP Sean Burnett to the Nationals for RHP Joel Hanrahan and LF Lastings Milledge.
Traded RF Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees
Recalled RF Garrett Jones from AAA-Indianapolis
Recalled RHP Virgil Vasquez from AAA-Indianapolis
Who’s Hot?:
Andy LaRoche -- .300/.417/.550, 5 for 20, 2B, 2 3B, RBI
Ross Ohlendorf -- 1-0, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 8 K
Who was Not?:
Andrew McCutchen -- .148/.233/.222, 4 for 27, 2 2B, RBI, SB
Paul Maholm -- 1-0, 11.1 IP, 16 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, .340 Opp BA
I really don’t understand why the Pirates players are whining so much. I get that it’s tough to play ball and get comfortable when your roster is changing, but if it’s not working, why wouldn’t you try to fix it? The moves that current general manager Neil Huntington is making are great ones. Andrew McCutchen was ready to play ball and the Pirates were thin in the pitching department. Nate McClouth was making a lot of money but with a capable replacement, why not save the cash and open other doors. The same case can be made for the Hinske trade. Eric Hinske was making a little too much money to be hitting .255 with almost no slugging. Even with the moves the Pirates offense is still struggling. But there have been some surprises, specifically the solid season of Andy LaRoche. With Freddy Sanchez back in top form the Pirates aren’t the pushovers they once were. With the imminent return of Ryan Doumit, that statement becomes even stronger.
On the mound the Bucs are in better shape than you think. Ian Snell was signed to a long term deal, but had some emotional problems that needed fixing in the minors. Replacing him is Virgil Vasquez who has tossed two quality starts against the Royals and Cubs. Vasquez has been unimpressive in the minors, but a low walk rate (1.1 BB/9) and a reasonable K-rate (6.0/9) in AAA is an indication that he can be successful at the big league level. The arrival of Charlie Morton from the Braves also brings the Pirates closer to being competitive team. Morton struggled as a rookie for Atlanta, but the righty has been stellar in the minors and it’s only a matter of time before he can be effective in Pittsburgh. The real problem for the Pirates early in the season has been their bullpen, but with Burnett gone and Hanrahan in, the Bucs seem to be improving there too.
Who’s Next:
After defeating the Marlins yesterday behind a solid outing from Morton, the Bucs look for continued success with two more against the Fish before heading to Houston for three against Cooper’s Astros.