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| Stephen Strasburg |
1) Stephen Strasburg (Washington Nationals, SP)
Strasburg was limited to only 24 innings in 2011 as he made a successful comeback from Tommy John surgery. Looking at 2012, Strasburg will be put on an innings limit, though the number has not yet been determined. With this innings limit imposed on Strasburg, it will be interesting to see how he is used throughout the season. Can his elbow remain healthy on a normal scheduled workload? And maybe most importantly, what would the Nationals do if they happened to be in a playoff race?
2) Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants, C)
Last year, Posey was involved in a controversial collision at home plate that resulted in a broken ankle for the young star. Posey claims to be 100% heading into spring training. But it will be interesting to see how the ankle holds up. Catcher is a very demanding position and Posey is the future of the franchise. There is no DH in the National League so Posey either plays catcher or doesn’t play at all. If the ankle remains healthy, the Giants will breathe a huge sigh of relief. If it doesn’t, the future of Posey could be in serious doubt.
Last year, Posey was involved in a controversial collision at home plate that resulted in a broken ankle for the young star. Posey claims to be 100% heading into spring training. But it will be interesting to see how the ankle holds up. Catcher is a very demanding position and Posey is the future of the franchise. There is no DH in the National League so Posey either plays catcher or doesn’t play at all. If the ankle remains healthy, the Giants will breathe a huge sigh of relief. If it doesn’t, the future of Posey could be in serious doubt.
3) Adam Wainwright (St. Louis Cardinals, SP)
Like Strasburg, Wainwright had Tommy John surgery before the 2011 season ever began. Unlike Strasburg, Wainwright did not make an appearance in 2011 as he focused on regaining the strength in his elbow. Wainwright does not expect to be limited at all in 2012, as no innings limits will be used with him. The Cardinals won the world series without its sec last season, but they have now lost Albert Pujols to the Angels. If Wainwright can pitch like he did before the injury, the Cardinals won’t miss a beat, Pujols will be an afterthought, and another world series title could be heading back St. Louis for a second consecutive year. If Wainwright struggles, will the Cardinals keep throwing him out there every 5th day and risk another injury? The latter doesn’t seem an issue, but is always a possibility.
Like Strasburg, Wainwright had Tommy John surgery before the 2011 season ever began. Unlike Strasburg, Wainwright did not make an appearance in 2011 as he focused on regaining the strength in his elbow. Wainwright does not expect to be limited at all in 2012, as no innings limits will be used with him. The Cardinals won the world series without its sec last season, but they have now lost Albert Pujols to the Angels. If Wainwright can pitch like he did before the injury, the Cardinals won’t miss a beat, Pujols will be an afterthought, and another world series title could be heading back St. Louis for a second consecutive year. If Wainwright struggles, will the Cardinals keep throwing him out there every 5th day and risk another injury? The latter doesn’t seem an issue, but is always a possibility.
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| Matt Kemp |
4) Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers, OF)
Many people believed that it was Kemp who deserved the National League MVP over Ryan Braun. Kemp finished 2011 with 39 homers and 40 stolen bases while batting .324, falling one home run shy of reaching the 40/40 club. Kemp has called it that he will be the first player in major league baseball history to have a 50/50 season. 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season is unheard of and Kemp has guaranteed he will do it. All the pressure is on Kemp as he will be closely watched day in and day out to see if he is on pace to match his guarantee. Kemp will deal with a lot media over the course of the year, but if anyone can handle it, Kemp sure can.
Many people believed that it was Kemp who deserved the National League MVP over Ryan Braun. Kemp finished 2011 with 39 homers and 40 stolen bases while batting .324, falling one home run shy of reaching the 40/40 club. Kemp has called it that he will be the first player in major league baseball history to have a 50/50 season. 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season is unheard of and Kemp has guaranteed he will do it. All the pressure is on Kemp as he will be closely watched day in and day out to see if he is on pace to match his guarantee. Kemp will deal with a lot media over the course of the year, but if anyone can handle it, Kemp sure can.
5) Yu Darvish (Texas Rangers, SP)
Yu Darvish was the biggest name out there when it came to starting pitchers in the offseason. A sensation in Japan for the last seven years, Darvish has the numbers to support why he was wanted by so many teams. With a 93-38 record and a WHIP under 1, Darvish will have a high reputation to live up to. The pressure will be on Darvish to impress both the Rangers organization and the nation of Japan. When the Red Sox too a gamble on Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2007, the same type of hype surrounded him. Darvish has handled the media well up to this point, but like every other major leaguer, will struggle and it will be interesting to see how he handles that type of media coverage when the time comes.
Yu Darvish was the biggest name out there when it came to starting pitchers in the offseason. A sensation in Japan for the last seven years, Darvish has the numbers to support why he was wanted by so many teams. With a 93-38 record and a WHIP under 1, Darvish will have a high reputation to live up to. The pressure will be on Darvish to impress both the Rangers organization and the nation of Japan. When the Red Sox too a gamble on Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2007, the same type of hype surrounded him. Darvish has handled the media well up to this point, but like every other major leaguer, will struggle and it will be interesting to see how he handles that type of media coverage when the time comes.
6) Manny Ramirez (Oakland Athletics, OF)
Manny Ramirez is about to get his third chance in the major leagues. The Athletics took a flier on the 39-year old after he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and retired shortly after. He has come out of retirement for at least one more year after signing with the Athletics. Manny will have to sit for the first 50 games because of the positive test. It will be interesting to see if Manny is still in baseball shape and to see if the gamble the A’s took was a good one. He is only getting paid for 112 games at the most as another chapter, and maybe the last one for good, will be written on “Manny being Manny.”
Manny Ramirez is about to get his third chance in the major leagues. The Athletics took a flier on the 39-year old after he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and retired shortly after. He has come out of retirement for at least one more year after signing with the Athletics. Manny will have to sit for the first 50 games because of the positive test. It will be interesting to see if Manny is still in baseball shape and to see if the gamble the A’s took was a good one. He is only getting paid for 112 games at the most as another chapter, and maybe the last one for good, will be written on “Manny being Manny.”
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| Ryan Braun |
7) Ryan Braun (Milwaukee Brewers, OF)
Ryan Braun has had a very difficult offseason. He tested positive for performance enhancing drugs after winning the MVP in 2011. Braun denied the positive test saying it was a mistake. After weeks of sitting and waiting, the arbitrators surprisingly found Braun innocent and Braun is now able to play the entire season instead of missing the first 50 games. It will be interesting to see how Braun is treated by the fans away from Miller Park and if that will effect his play. Braun is now able to play in all 162 games for the Brewers and they could’t be happier. Can he still produce the MVP-type numbers without Prince Fielder around? Only time will tell.
Ryan Braun has had a very difficult offseason. He tested positive for performance enhancing drugs after winning the MVP in 2011. Braun denied the positive test saying it was a mistake. After weeks of sitting and waiting, the arbitrators surprisingly found Braun innocent and Braun is now able to play the entire season instead of missing the first 50 games. It will be interesting to see how Braun is treated by the fans away from Miller Park and if that will effect his play. Braun is now able to play in all 162 games for the Brewers and they could’t be happier. Can he still produce the MVP-type numbers without Prince Fielder around? Only time will tell.
8) Aroldis Chapman (Cincinnati Reds, SP)
Chapman might be the hardest throwing pitcher in all of baseball. At the young age of 23, Chapman is just beginning what could be a very successful career in the major leagues. Consistently topping over 100 mph with his fastball, Chapman pairs that fastball with a deadly slider that is always keeping the batters guessing. Chapman has always pitched out of the bullpen which makes this season worth watching. The word around baseball is that he will now be used as a starting pitcher, but it remains to be seen how he will be used. At only 23 years old, the Reds do not want to over use him, but at the same time cannot ignore his superb stuff. An innings limit may be used but only time will tell.
Chapman might be the hardest throwing pitcher in all of baseball. At the young age of 23, Chapman is just beginning what could be a very successful career in the major leagues. Consistently topping over 100 mph with his fastball, Chapman pairs that fastball with a deadly slider that is always keeping the batters guessing. Chapman has always pitched out of the bullpen which makes this season worth watching. The word around baseball is that he will now be used as a starting pitcher, but it remains to be seen how he will be used. At only 23 years old, the Reds do not want to over use him, but at the same time cannot ignore his superb stuff. An innings limit may be used but only time will tell.
9) Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees, 3B)
What’s a watch list without Alex Rodriguez on it? The 14 time all star and 3 time AL MVP is under the spotlight each and every year he plays. Being in New York makes that spotlight even bigger. Last year, A-Rod was held to just 99 games as he suffered a knee injury that kept him from recording 30 home runs and 100 rbi’s in a season for the first time since 1998. Rodriguez will turn 37 years old just before the trade deadline. The Yankees do not plan on using him as the primary designated hitter, but with the number of injuries seeming to increase for A-Rod, he might have to.
What’s a watch list without Alex Rodriguez on it? The 14 time all star and 3 time AL MVP is under the spotlight each and every year he plays. Being in New York makes that spotlight even bigger. Last year, A-Rod was held to just 99 games as he suffered a knee injury that kept him from recording 30 home runs and 100 rbi’s in a season for the first time since 1998. Rodriguez will turn 37 years old just before the trade deadline. The Yankees do not plan on using him as the primary designated hitter, but with the number of injuries seeming to increase for A-Rod, he might have to.
10) Ryan Howard (Philadelphia Phillies, 1B)
Howard tore his achilles back in October and has been rehabbing it ever since he got surgery. He will not be ready for Opening Day when the Phillies travel to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates on April 5th. Howard may very well miss the first month or so of the season. He will have to play 1st base when he returns and it will be interesting to see how the achilles holds up. Howard is a force in the middle of the Phillies lineup that very much needs him. His power threat helps others like Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins have better seasons offensively. Without Howard, the Phillies making it to the postseason become just a little more difficult.
Howard tore his achilles back in October and has been rehabbing it ever since he got surgery. He will not be ready for Opening Day when the Phillies travel to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates on April 5th. Howard may very well miss the first month or so of the season. He will have to play 1st base when he returns and it will be interesting to see how the achilles holds up. Howard is a force in the middle of the Phillies lineup that very much needs him. His power threat helps others like Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins have better seasons offensively. Without Howard, the Phillies making it to the postseason become just a little more difficult.
What do you think of Dustin Ackely ?
ReplyDeleteAckley has star potential after making a nice impression in his first major league season. I see him being a great second baseman for years to come has he should be a player the Mariners build around in the future. As for this year, look for an improvement in his numbers from last year as he looks to cut down his strikeout rate and get on base more in front of Ichiro
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