The new look Angels are off to a slow start but no time to worry or panic.  The Angels lost two or their three games to the Royals.  They struggled to pitch to the youngest roster in the league.  The Angels won their home opener 5-0, while Jered Weaver pitched a gem.  The Angels threw Haren and Santana on the mound but struggled int heir first starts of the young season.   Albert Pujols started off slow getting his first hit in his second at bat of his second game as a halo.  If your a Halo fan, do not panic.  This team is a team to beat in the AL.  They throw two aces in their next series against the Twins, in Wilson followed by Weaver.

The Dodgers didn’t make any huge moves in the off season but jumped out of the gate to a hot start against the Padres.  To sum up the series, Matt Kemp and Andre Eithier each had 8 RBI’s while Kemp went deep twice.  In the season opener, the new owned Dodgers gave the ball to their ace Kershaw, but he was too sick to get through the 4th inning yet they still get the win against the Padres.  Game two, Chad Billinsley was the story for the Dodgers who pitched nearly a complete game while striking out 11 and letting up 3 hits to the Padres.  The Dodgers won game 3, leaving game 4 for the padres as they got their first win of the season.

This should be a very interesting year of baseball after two franchise players have switched cities.  Those being King Albert, and the prince.  Im not a baseball expert or genius but i strongly think the new look Angels will come out of the american league and the powerful phillies will come out of the national league. I understand that Ryan Howard will be out awhile but pitching can win games even when the offense isn t clicking.  The phillies lost two power hitters in Ibanez and Howard for the year but the phillies still have one of the best if not the best starting rotation in the league.  Halladay, Lee, Hamels, and Worley will win some games.  These two teams, Angels and Phillies will make post season runs and look for them to meet in the World series.

which team got the better slugger?  Angels? Tigers?   I have looked at it two different ways.  And theres two answers to this question.  The simple answer is both.  BUT at different times.  Pujols will help more than Fielder in the first 5 years of his deal, but after that its Fielders time.  Pujols is older than fielder and their for Pujols is at his game right now as we speak.  Fielder is younger and therefore will be a MVP caliber player for 9 years to come.  But right now, Pujols is better.  The Angels made a great move bringing the best baseball player to hollywood and the Tigers made a great move to bring Fielder to their squad.   How about the one two punch of Fielder and Cabrera batting back to back and both of them swing with different hands which is extremely tough for pitchers to get through.

This years postseason should be very interesting.  Theres not one team you can get a break on by playing them.  I believe last year there were teams you would prefer to play and try to either win or lose to try to face that team or squad but not this year.  Last Year, you wanted to play the twins in the AL, and in the NL you wanted to play the Reds and surprisingly the giants, until they proved everyone wrong and won the world series.  Good Luck trying to pick a team to play this year because your going to have your weaknesses here and their.  Playoffs is almost set, and in the AL, you have the Rangers, Yankees, Tigers, and Red Sox or Rays.  And in the Nl, you have the Phillies, Diamondbacks, Brewers, and Cards or braves.

Lets start out with the Al.  I believe the Al has stronger teams but i was proved wrong last year when an NL squad won the Trophy.   I think the strongest team going into the playoffs is the Yankees.  I believe that there series with the Red Sox gave all the pitchers who pitched confidence in their stuff especially AJ Burnett.  Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova also pitched very well.  But the Yankees had it all in that series taking 2 of 3.  They got contributions from their promising rookie Jesus Montero and their veterans came through in Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter.  I believe that the yankees pitching along with their powerful offense will cause problems to any opposition even with their ace on the mound.   But you never know, The Yankees could make an early exit this year.

In the NL, i think its just obvious.  Yes their are good teams, but theirs one that stands out because of their pitching.  And if you haven’t figured it out by now it is the Phillies.  You have Cole Hamels pitching in your third game!  Thats crazy.  This is a ace.  The phillies starting pitching reminds me of the big three in Miami for basketball, you have an all Star power forward in chris bosh who is the teams third option and this is just like the Phillies.  Cole Hamels is their third option.  You have three aces on the mound Roy, Cliff and Cole.  Good Luck DBacks, Brewers, and Braves.  You’ll have no success against them. Guaranteed.  Thats like facing Justin Verlander every game during your series with the phillies.

So it the end, i think that the Yankees will meet the Phillies and what a series whould that be.

Is the dude that plays center field for a terrible team the real deal?   The dodgers are terrible, and for him to be putting up these numbers are historic.  I am so strong on him, i believe he is the best player in the MLB by far.  I don’t even think its close.  Forget Ryan Braun, Ryan Howard, Robinson Cano, Prince Fielder, Josh Hamilton, Jose Reyes, Albert Pujols and whoever you want to try to make an argument for.  Don’t get me wrong these are all all Stars and great players and some are future hall of famers but how about Matt Kemp?   Theres absolutely no roof on his success.  He has so much to grow its not even funny.  Mr. Kemp has a legitimate chance at the triple crown and MVP.  His team is flat out awful.  Up and down the order.  Exept for one man.  He bats 3rd, he plays center field.  And hes the best baseball player in the world right now.  His name is Matt kemp.  Matt Kemp is having a historic year.  I mean think about it, the dodgers have Juan Rivera batting clean up.   No offense to Juan Rivera but if you were traded to the Yankees you wouldnt have a spot.  This Dude matt kemp has 118 RBI’s and thats when 2 rookies are batting in front of him who rarely get on base.  Sorry Dee Gordan and justin Sellers but when you too can hit .200 give me a call.  Just imagine if if michael Bourn and Curtis Granderson were batting in front of him.  Would he be at 200 RBI’s by now?  Theres a chance.  Hes doing every little bit to keep his team over 500%.  Its not the Dodgers, its Matt Kemp and a shout out to Clayton Kershaw.  Best pitcher in the NL right now.  The Dodgers could have 2 players on the same team that win two huge awards in the Cy young and the MVP.  Another important stat is Matt Kemps runs scored.  He has 109 runs scored and um yea he plays on the dodgers.  Dont think they drive him in, its more like a fielders choice that scored MAtt.  He has to steal second and third in order to score because the Dodgers cant bring him around.  Mine a well have Kershaw bat 4th.  Thatd be something.  Hey why dont you just throw Matt Kemp to close out the ninth when Kershaws pitches 8 sraight 4 hit ball.  Point being MAtt kemp clear path to NL MVP with his historic season with a  terrible team.

If your the best player in baseball, you need to be the best or one of the best in all of the major stat categories and your ball club is one of the top clubs in the majors.  This being said i have a list of candidates i believe are the best on baseball.    Prince Fielder, Matt Kemp, Robinson Cano, Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes, Adrian Gonzalez, Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols.  Now all these players can play offense, defense, and lead their respective ball clubs.  Now my personal vote goes to Matt Kemp of the Dodgers, but you can make an aguement its not him because his dodgers are struggling to stay in second to last in the NL West.   Matt Kemp can hit, hes in the top 3 in homers, RBI’s, and stolen bases in the national league and is 6th in batting average and 3 percentage points out of being in the top 3.   Matt Kemp is also in the top 10 in the NL in the runs category and thats pretty impressive insisting that hes on the Dodgers who dont score many runs.  Put him on a Yankees, Red Sox, or Rangers team and he would have way over 100 RBI’s  by now.  He already has 72 and thats with tony Gwynn Jr.  and Juan Uribe batting in front of him not going to pick up many RBI’s when their batting in front of you.  Thats my vote but you could have a another vote because their are many gret players right now in the League.

Much needed win for both teams because if the Rangers win, they would go up 3-1 in the series and most likely close it out.  If the Yankees win the series will be tied and then you have your ace C.C. Sabathia pitching the next one to most likely put you up 3-2.   It was a good game, with scoring both ways until the Rangers struck once again.  It was 3 to 2 yanks going into the sixth inning when the Rangers got 3 in the 6th.  2 runs in the 7th and another 3 in the ninth.  Final score was 10-3.  The Yankees are not swinging the bats well and when you go along with the rangers pitching which is almost unhittable.  Rangers go up 3 games to 1 in this ALDS.

Cliff Lee was pushed back in the rotation because he pitched game seven of a previous series and was scheduled to start for game 3 and game 7.   No one could hit Cliff Lee.  He let up 2 hits and 1 walk in 8 innings.  He struck out 13 and didn’t give up a run.  The Yankees are going to go after this star in the offseason because if you cant hit him, you face him a lot, and you have the money; why not go after him.  The Rangers only scored 2 runs of Andy Pettite, but then in the top of the ninth inning the rangers exploded for 6 runs.  Final score 8-0.  Texas 2, yankees 1.

I was watching the yankees early and they looked awful.  i turned on the T.V and it already said 3-0 in the first inning.  Then they surrendered two more runs later in the 4 inning. I then turned it off because it started to get ugly.  Later, when I was out to dinner, the restaurant had the game on so I was forced to watch it, and it got a little better with a Robinson Cano Homer in the seventh inning.  But still a  very ugly sight.  To be watching supposedly the best team in baseball with the most talent by far losing to the texas Rangers by 4 runs late in the game.  Then later that night i turned on the radio and mariono Rivera was in.  I was thinking why is the best closer in when their down 4 runs still.  Later they said the score and it was 6-5.  I was shocked.  The Bombers scored 5 runs in the top of the 8th inning.  It all started by the game changing play by speedy Brett Gardner.  He ran out a infield single to first.  Then the captain picked him up.  Two straight walks to Swisher and Texiera led to a 2 run single by Rodriguez.  And then another 2 runs scored by singles from Cano and Thames.  Everybody on the yankees roster contributed somehow.  Most teams would have said oh were down 5 runs and we only have 1 inning to get that back so were going to lose.  Thats why the yankees are separated from the rest of the league.  They don’t quit and they never stop fighting.   They will try for a 2-0 lead but would definiaelty settle for a split.