Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

[Dewey2007]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

I have been pleased with the play of Adam Rosales for the A's. What a great pickup he has been especially with all of the injuries they have had. I also enjoy the fastest homerun trot in the majors!

[cjclong]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

I'd have to agree on Vlad. Like a lot of hitters he has a park he hits particularly well in, which has been the Rangers park. (However I've wondered how much of that was because he was hitting Rangers pitching which had been pretty weak over a lot of those years.) I would hardly list Hamilton as a nearly done player, he's under 30 and is hitting around .290 with 9 home runs. (A replay showed the umpires cost him his 10th this year when they ruled it a double instead of the home run it was ) And I could go through a list of older players the Rangers brought in over the last 10 years to DH who were complete busts, so don't credit everything Vlad is doing to the Rangers park.

[legaleagle92481]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

I'd have to agree on Vlad. Like a lot of hitters he has a park he hits particularly well in, which has been the Rangers park. (However I've wondered how much of that was because he was hitting Rangers pitching which had been pretty weak over a lot of those years.) I would hardly list Hamilton as a nearly done player, he's under 30 and is hitting around .290 with 9 home runs. (A replay showed the umpires cost him his 10th this year when they ruled it a double instead of the home run it was ) And I could go through a list of older players the Rangers brought in over the last 10 years to DH who were complete busts, so don't credit everything Vlad is doing to the Rangers park.

I was not saying the park was the SOLE factor just that it was a major factor and I did not mean to say that Hamilton was nearly done just that upon becoming a Ranger he played much better than he did against weaker NL pitching the year before with the Reds. And yes some guys have been complete busts i.e. Richard Hidalgo. Vlad is a first ballot HOFer though so I don't mean to take anything away from him it is just I find the park effect riveting. Jayson Werth became a star in Philly's bandbox as another example. Or Johnny Damon hitting all those homers last year because of the short porch at the new Yankee Stadium. Or Juan Gonzalez being a beast in Texas then going to spacious Comerica and turning into a shell of how he hit the season before several years ago. Or Jason Bay going from a power hitter to a guy with three homers at Citifield.

[brianborsch]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

One person I have been impressed with is Tyler Colvin. Now granted, his plate discipline leaves much to be desired, but for getting limited playing time, he is doing well and he has a great attitude. He is heard many times just saying he wants to help the team however he can. For a guy who gets 1 or 2 at bats in a game, he is throwing up numbers that may warrant more playing time: .319 avg., 5 homers, .652 Slg, in 69 at bats. I am hoping he becomes a starter and wins the NL ROY!

[chakes89]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

The Cincinnati Reds

[allstarsplus]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

From the Nationals, has to be Matt Capps as the top closer in the MLB and Josh Willingham with the bat and honorable mention to Pudge Rodriguez.

Ian Desmond is showing that he possibly could be in the top 5 for Rookie of the Year.

[skyking26]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

From the Nationals, has to be Matt Capps as the top closer in the MLB and Josh Willingham with the bat and honorable mention to Pudge Rodriguez.

Ian Desmond is showing that he possibly could be in the top 5 for Rookie of the Year.

I know you guys need a first baseman, but the way Willingham is playing...he giving the Nats some strong reasons not to pay Dunn top $$.

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

Desmond is having a nice season, but with the NL class of ROY candidates, he doesn't have a chance. It's really up to Heyward, Garcia, Leake, Freese, Castro, and maybe down the line Strasburg, Posey, or Alvarez. Guys that are having nice rookie seasons, but really don't have a chance are Desmond, Davis, and Heisey.

[Schmoozer]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

Desmond is having a nice season, but with the NL class of ROY candidates, he doesn't have a chance.

I believe Mr. Lang said "top 5". I don't think he said "winner", or "lock", or anything like that.

But thank you for your expertise on the rookie scene.

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

I never said these were LOCKS, I said candidates which I believe top 5 would make someone a candidate right? Maybe, I'm off my rocker to think that, I don't know. Your sarcasm, as always is appreciated.

[gingi79]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

Martin Prado. Dude has been the best second baseman in the NL this young season. Other than Chase Utley, there is no one anywhere near him. Considering all the help Chase has in Philly versus the fact it has been the Prado and Heyward show this season in Atlanta, how can he not make the team?

In 49 games he is hitting .324, .454 SLG, 15 doubles, 4 HRs and 26 RBI

Odds are, Prado doesn't make the All Star game unless the Manager has more brains than the fans. I don't understand why the HOF takes All Star game appearences into consideration considering how little the average fan knows about the game, especially players outside their hometown. I think the time has come to have the teams selected by anyone other than fans. Hell, throw darts at the wall, pick names out of a hat, anything.

I'd even suggest placing all the names under pigeons in a cage and where ever the feces lands, they make the team. Even then, less players will be slighted than the current method.

OJ McDuffie was the best reciever in football in 1998. He led the league in receptions, had over 1000 yards for the only time in his career and was a formitable threat every time Marino threw him the ball. He didn't make the Pro Bowl because outside of Miami, no one knew he was more than a punt returner. Personally, I thought it was the biggest slight any of my teams had ever suffered. But if Martin Prado doesn't make the All Star game, it might be the biggest slight in the MLB this season.

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

Prado won't make the All-Star team because of his name and team. Heyward has a shot before him which is too bad because Prado is one of the best hitting second basemen in the game. He showed last year that he can hit, and sure enough this year he is even better. That's why though the ASG's rosters should not be up to the fans because the majority votes on popularity. That one of many reasons why I really could careless for the ASG.

[legaleagle92481]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

I think unless he gets hurt or falls on his face Heyward will unamiously win the ROY. Stratsburg if he comes up will not have enough innings to get serious consideration, I think he will pitch in the bigs from around June 15th and they will essentially shut him down Sept. 1st to keep his innings count low. As for the Braves allstars Heyward is pretty close to a lock at this point, especially since not many NL outfielders are having allstar years and Wagner will go since it is his last year and managers love to pick closers and he has had a fairly good year. Prado is hurt by fact that Utley is a lock to start as always and they will probably only take one other second baseman.

[allstarsplus]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

I believe Mr. Lang said "top 5". I don't think he said "winner", or "lock", or anything like that.

Thanks for correctly reading what I wrote. Ian Desmond is showing that he possibly could be in the top 5 for Rookie of the Year.

The season is only about 1/3 over so there is a lot of baseball to be played and many Rookies still set to debut.

So with his list: Heyward, Garcia, Leake, Freese, Castro are on his current list, I certainly see the Possibility of Demond being among some of those names on my list.

[CampWest]

Re: Who are you most pleased by so far in the 2010 MLB season

They should just give the All Star starts to the guys with the highest salary*population at their position. That's about the best correlation to be found in the fan vote. Select the backups on top performers based on OPS, RBI, Runs, etc.

Prado won't make the All-Star team because of his name and team. Heyward has a shot before him which is too bad because Prado is one of the best hitting second basemen in the game. That's why though the ASG's rosters should not be up to the fans because the majority votes on popularity. That one of many reasons why I really could careless for the ASG.

Odds are, Prado doesn't make the All Star game unless the Manager has more brains than the fans. I think the time has come to have the teams selected by anyone other than fans. Hell, throw darts at the wall, pick names out of a hat, anything.