Worcester's Team Takes Shape

Numbers speak for themselves;

Lineup
1. Hanley Ramirez SS (125 R, 33 HR, 36 SB, .293 AVG)
2. Grady Sizemore CF (99 R, 34 HR, 95 RBI, 40 SB)
3. Jason Bay LF (116 R, 32 HR, 106 RBI, .288 AVG)
4. Mark Teixeira 1B (102 R, 31 HR, 120 RBI, .301 AVG)
5. Jorge Cantu 2B (92 R, 29 HR, 95 RBI)
6. Joe Mauer C (99 R, 80 RBI, .321 AVG)
7. Adrian Beltre 3B (25 HR, 77 RBI)
8. Derek Jeter DH (88 R, 300 AVG)
9. Carl Crawford RF (92 R, 13 3B, 33 SB)

Starting Rotation
1. Joba Chamberlain (2.60 ERA, 100.1 IP, 118 SO)
2. Ryan Dempster (17 W, 2.96 ERA, 206.2 IP, 187 SO)
3. Adam Wainwright (11 W, 3 L, 3.20 ERA)
4. Jeremy Guthrie (3.63 ERA, 190.2 IP, 30 GS)
5. Erik Bedard (3.67 ERA, 81 IP, 72 SO, 15 GS)

Bullpen (this is where we get lights out!!!)
1. Grant Balfour (1.54 ERA, 58.2 IP, 82 SO)
2. Brandon Morrow (1.64 ERA, 54 IP, 65 SO, 11-13 SV)
3. Scott Downs (1.78 ERA, 70.2 IP, 57 SO)
4. Craig Breslow (1.91 ERA, 47 IP, 39 SO)
5. J.P. Howell (2.22 ERA, 89.1 IP, 92 SO)
6. Jesse Carlson (2.25 ERA, 60 IP, 55 SO)
7. Heath Bell (3.07 ERA, 76 IP, 68 SO)

Goodbye rest of league.

Elim Add Hughes

Well the trio is complete. Hughes, Kennedy, and Chamberlain are united. Hughes was aquired along with a player to be named for Adam Loewen and a player to be named. Hughes had some tough luck this year and so did Kennedy, but if both were ranked higher than Joba, then his success should be an indication of whats to come out of Kennedy and Hughes. This trade has zero effect on this year. It's all about next year.

Elims Commit to Playoffs

"With all the injuries we've suffered this season trades are bound to happen. We're not giving up on this season. We are not going to hold back. This is our season" said GM/Owner Matt Caskey following the acquisition of OF Jason Bay, SP Adam Wainwright, and SP Scott Olsen. The Elims gave up prospect Chris Marrero and OF Mark Teahen with two players to be named. "This is the trade we needed. With Crawford, Hudson, Chamberlain, Young, and Bedard suffering from nagging injuries, we had to find replacements or even upgrades and we did so."

Chamberlain vs. Haren

Ok... for those of you who think Chamberlain is more of a keeper and that Haren is hands down better than him, I will post their stats lines against each other for the remainder of the season and then we'll see who has the better second half and with comparable first half's, the better season.

Chamberlein        Haren

Date   IP    H    R    ER    BB    SO    HR   ERA              Date    IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   HR   ERA

7/19   6      6     1      1       1        8      0      2.52               7/19    7      4    0    0     2      7       0     2.58

7/25   7      3     0     0      1        9       0      2.30              7/25    8     9     2    2     0      9      0      2.56

7/30  6      5     2      1      0        6       0      2.24              7/30   7      7     3    3     0      6       1      2.62

8/04 4.2   8     5      5      2        5       0      2.63              8/04  6      8     4    4     0      8       1      2.75      

Totals

GS     IP    H   R     ER     BB    SO    HR    ERA              GS    IP     H    R    ER   BB   SO    HR   ERA

3    23.2    22   8      7        4       28     0     2.66               3      28    28   9    9        2    30     2       2.89

S0... as you can see, Joba is pitching better than Haren, albeit slighty, but given that I got Morrow in the trade as well, I come out ahead.  

Chamberlain and Morrow Join the Elims

Just what the title suggests, Joba Chamberlain and Brandon Morrow are now Eliminators at the expense of Dan Haren, George Sherrill, and Joey Devine. "This was trade was difficult for us until we look at the numbers. Since 2006 Haren's ERA has risen drastically in the second half of the seasons going from 3.52 to 4.91 in 2006 and 2.30 to 4.15 in 2007. We're noticing a trend here and are predicting more of the same in 2008. Sherrill started out the season hot and has tailed off and really has no future potential. Devine has potential, but has yet to show it on a consistent basis and with him on the DL he is a nothing player on the Elims. Joba and Morrow will help my team more than Haren and Sherrill. This trade really wasn't that difficult" said GM/Owner Matt Caskey. Rumor has it that Morrow will become the teams new closer with Chamberlain taking over for Haren as the team's ace. 

Dye an Eliminator

Jermaine Dye will add a little more power to an already potent lineup. It's still being determined but it seems Dye will hit behind Sizemore, Ramirez, Crawford, and Teixeira, with Derek Lee supporting him from behind. It seems worcester now has two 40/40 candidates (Sizemore/Ramirez) and three 30+ HR candidates (Dye, Tex, Lee). There should be little doubt as to the power of the Eliminator lineup now and with its pitching being number one in the league, one has to think they are the favorites to take the east. Dye did not come cheap. Worcester has to give up streaky reliever Joaquin Benoit and two players to be named. "Dye will fit in nicely" is all GM/Owner Matt Caskey had to say about the deal.

Sizemore

Grady Sizemore is anything but platueing, like many of you in the league think. This season he has already matched his rookie season in HR with 22 and just six away from his career total of 28 set two seasons ago. Sizemore is on pace for career highs in HR (41), RBI (91), and SB (37). Currently, he ranks 1st in the AL in HR (22), 6th in BB (50), 7th in SLG. (.541), 8th in R (56), 9th in SB (20), and 9th in .OPS (.914). Not bad for a guy everyone had labeled as being predictable and washed up. Oh and by the way he is only 25 years old. Lets let him reach his prime before we say he is peaking.