MLB award predictions

By Dan Rodgers

This is just a continuation of the previous post. However, this one will only be dealing with the awards races.

AL MVP candidates: Robinson Cano (NYY), Miguel Cabrera (DET), Vlad Guerrero (TEX)

NL MVP candidates: David Wright (NYM), Albert Pujols (STL), Joey Votto (CIN)

AL CY YOUNG candidates: David Price (TAM), Jon Lester (BOS), Andy Pettite (NYY), Jered Weaver (LAA)

NL CY YOUNG candidates: Ubaldo Jimenez (COL), Adam Wainwright (STL), Chris Carpenter (STL), Mike Pelfry (NYM)

AL ROOKIE: Brennan Boesch (DET), Austin Jackson (DET), Mitch Talbot (CLE), Neftali Feliz (TEX)

NL ROOKIE: Gaby Sanchez (FLA), Jason Heyward (ATL), Ike Davis (NYM), Jaime Garcia (STL)

AL MANAGER: Ron Washington (TEX), Cito Gaston (TOR)

NL MANAGER: Bobby Cox (ATL), Bud Black (SD)

Here is a nice clip from a July 4 that happened just a few years back...enjoy...





Rodgers That

Sunday Night...BASEBALL!

By Dan Rodgers

Oh my how time flies...it's finally April and that means....the start of the MLB season!

Tonight, my New York Yankees re-enter the biggest rivalry in sports and take the field in Boston against the Red Sox.

This game is one of over a dozen that these two rivals will play this year. Last year the Yanks lost the first eight in a row against the Sox before winning nine of the last 10. The Bombers have shown that they have developed chemistry and the additions of Curtis Granderson, Javier Vasquez, Nick Johnson will add plenty of depth and experience to the powerful Yankee lineup. Vasquez and Johnson will both be entering their second stint with the Yanks and Granderson brings a good bat and a great glove in the outfield.

Boston made major renovations to both their lineup and rotation. The Sox added Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro, and Mike Cameron to the starting lineup. They also picked up Jeremy Hermida and Bill Hall to provide some depth off the bench.

The rotation, however, is the most impressive in the big leagues. Yes, even more so than the Yankees and the Phillies. The rotation headlines with Josh Beckett of course, but there is no drop off to the number two in Jon Lester. Not to mention the fact that John Lackey is the number three. All three of those pitchers have the potential to be 20-game winners. Oh, by the way, Dice-K is the fourth and he has already won 19 games in a season. Youngster Clay Buchholz and veteran Tim Wakefield round out the staff.

This game should be exciting as Sabathia battles Beckett in a game I think the Yankees will take. The Bombers developed a ton of chemistry last year during their World Series run. That was something they had been lacking in previous years. It is also the reason the Yanks win tonight and take the division. The Sox made a lot of changes this off-season and it will take time to develop the chemistry the Yankees now have.

Enjoy the game...and the season.

Rodgers That