Covering Major League Baseball

By: Joe Jacquez

Their is no doubt that Sunday was an important day around baseball. With just two weeks left in the regular season, it was especially important for two teams in desperate need of some momentum, and both teams got the job done. Here are five things that I learned from Sunday, and a look ahead to this weeks action.

1. The Orioles are for real even without Chris Davis

The Orioles have been unappreciated all season long in terms of the American League Playoff picture. For the majority of the season, people have been talking about the Angels, Athletics, and Tigers as the teams to reach the ALCS and have a chance to win the A.L. Pennant.

The team at this point that might have the best chance to win the pennant is the team everybody isn’t talking about: the Orioles. This team never gives up, and just relies on the next guy.

I witnessed this for myself last night. Down 2-1 in the 9th, guys like Kelly Johnson who had the walkoff hit, and Steve Pearce has stepped in nicely at 1B. Think about this stat: if he would have had enough plate apperances, he would be ranked 6th in the A.L in OPS, ahead of both Davis and Nelson Cruz. They traded for Alejandro De Aza who has batted .291 since coming over to Baltimore.

The Orioles rotation which has been questioned by the national pundits all week has really stepped it up since the All Star Break. The Orioles pitching has an post all star break of 2.91 which is the best in baseball, and there rotation era is also the best in baseball.

All five starters have era’s under 4. The Orioles might not have a definitive no.1, but to be honest that isn’t necessary anymore especially when you have five really good starters. The key to the Orioles success is their bullpen. Their manager Buck Showalter has always been the best at playing the match ups in the pen, and he has got alot of options.

One of those options is LHP Andrew Miller who usually pitches in either the 6th, 7th, or 8th inning. Since coming over to Baltimore, he has a 1.08 era and a 0.48 WHIP. Zach Britton has thrived in the closers role, and Darren O Day the side armer is tough against both LHP’s and RHP’s.

This team is balanced and dangerous and is the Angels biggest challenge to winning the A.L pennant.

2. The Braves Are Done

I simply cant figure out this team and I dont say that all the time. They are playing their worst baseball at the wrong time. They were embarrassed all weekend long getting swept by the Texas Rangers of all teams, including allowing 10 runs in a blowout loss on Sunday. The Braves are four back in the N.L Wild Card standings behind the Giants, Pirates, and Brewers.

Their rotation and bullpen have actually done a really good job this season, and it hasn’t been the problem. Their 3.35 era ranks 6th in all of baseball.

Their offense has been the problem. The Braves rank 4th in the Majors this season in strikeouts 1260 the most of any current contender. Their .243 average as a team is the 7th worst in all of baseball, and their OBP of .308 as a team is the eighth worst in baseball.

General Manager Frank Wren has made a lot of bad decisions in terms of baseball operations, His worst decision was signing B.J Upton to a long term deal. Upton is signed through 2017 apart of a 5 year 75 million contract, and all he has done with that deal is not produce.

After batting .184 last season, he is batting .207, and has struck out 165 times this season. The whole Braves offense is that way. Its either strikeout, HR, or nothing. Justin Upton has struck out 153 times, and its that way for pretty much every Braves hitter. When they are rolling, they look like one of the best offenses in all of baseball, and when they are bad they are one of the worst.

If this team doesn’t make the playoffs, which it looks like that is what is going to happen, there will be major changes.

3. The N.L MVP Race Is Over

After scoring 17 runs in a rout of the Giants on Saturday, the Dodgers needed another win to take two out of three and put some comfortable distance between themselves and SF in the N.L West. With Clayton Kershaw on the mound the Dodgers had to feel good about their chances, and he delivered.

He pitched 8 innings and picked up his 19th win in 25 starts. He is 19-3 with an era of 1.70. That era is lower than what Koufax ever did, and he is on pace to win the MLB era title for the fourth straight year. Nobody has ever done that. This is one of the best pitching seasons we have ever seen, and he missed a month. That is saying something. This game was so important for the Dodgers.

With the win, they increased their lead in the West to 3.0 games with 13 to go. The Dodgers next seven games are against the Rockies and Cubs two last place teams. The scoreless inning streak of 41 innings, and his no-hitter with 15 K’s and no BB"s is ridiculous. His 7.7 WAR leads all players both position and pitchers. He is ahead of Mike Trout, and Josh Donaldson.

With Giancarlo Stanton’s injury and with the Marlins in third place and out of the race, this race is pretty much over. For people that say pitchers cant win MVP, let me remind you that MVP means most valuable player. and if a pitcher is the most valuable player, than he should win the award. The WAR stat proves that. If Kershaw gets two more wins, and the Dodgers win the division, he will win MVP. To me the race is already over.

4. The Athletics have life

To say that this was an important week for the Athletics was an understatement. A historic collapse has left them clinging to their playoff lives with the Royals, Mariners, and Tigers after having the best record in the American League for the better part of the summer.

They won two of three against the Mariners to get some breathing room in the wild card race. They beat the M’s when Felix Hernandez started on Saturday, and they won on Sunday thanks to a great outing from Jon Lester. I am still concerned about their offense, but then again I have the same concern for the Mariners.

The thing we learned this weekend is that this team has life, but every game is going to be important. They will play the Angels one more time starting on the 22nd.

What To Watch For: Mon-Thurs.

Their are just two weeks left in the season as the stretch run reaches its pinnacle. Their are plenty of series to watch out for. Here is what I will be watching:

1. Mariners-Angels: One tidbit: The M’s are actually 7-5 against the Angels clinging to their wild card playoff lives, while the Angels are trying to grab the best record in the junior circuit.

2. Blue Jays-Orioles: The Orioles magic number to clinch the American League East is getting smaller and smaller, and they put a bow on their first A.L East championship in 17 years if they win 2 of 3. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are actually just 4.0 games back in the wild card picture, but in order to stay in the race, they have to win all three.

3. Nationals-Braves: The Nationals magic number to clinch the N.L East is at 3 and they can clinch the East if they take 2 of 3 from the Braves. They have Stephen Strasburg on the mound on Friday. After getting swept by the Rangers, the Braves are clinging to their playoff lives, and need to win at least 2 of 3 to stay in the picture.

4. Brewers-Cardinals: This big series starts Tuesday between two division rivals. The Cardinals are running away with the Central and the top seed in the N.L is still in play. This series is about Milwaukee who are 5 games back of the Cardinals after a huge collapse. They have found stability and a sweep would help them get back in the Central race. The real story is the N.L Wild Card. The Brewers are 1.5 games back of the Pirates for the second spot.

Enjoy some pennant race baseball!