The 2012 MLB regular season heads into the second week of May with the warmer weather right around the corner. Here’s a look at what some of the hottest and cold teams did on the diamond this past week.
Money Makers
Baltimore Orioles (5-1, $607): You know things are running well for your ball club when one of your sluggers (Chris Davis) goes 0-for-8 with five strikeouts but comes in and tosses two innings of scoreless ball with two Ks to get the win. That’s exactly what happened in the O’s marathon win in Boston on Sunday, and it closed out a week that saw manager Buck Showalter’s squad go a lucrative 5-1 in its six-games played in the Bronx and Fenway. Baltimore is currently the best bet in the league reeling in a shade under $1500 for the year! This club has shown the ability to hit the long ball (41) and be able to handle its business in the late innings with the bullpen possessing the league’s best ERA (1.41).
On The Docket: After passing its litmus test at divisional opposition last week, it doesn’t get any easier for the Orioles who return home to battle Texas for four followed by a weekend set with Tampa Bay; the O’s have won eight of 12 as hosts to date ($412).
Miami Marlins (6-1, $473): Ozzie Guillen was 100 percent correct in stating that his squad needed to get away from Miami to regroup. After dropping its home finale with the D’backs to fall to six-games under .500, Miami hit the west coast to battle the Giants and Padres in pitcher friendly AT&T and Petco Parks. Save for Josh Johnson’s blow-up, Marlins pitching gave up a total of just 11 runs and Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez, and Mark Buehrle all registered quality start victories. The demotion of Heath Bell as the team’s closer also helped matters. There’s simply too much talent on this team’s roster for it to continue underachieving.
On The Docket: The Fish close out their nine-game roady in Houston followed up with a home set against the division rival Mets where they’ll look to improve upon their mediocre 6-5 home record.
Cleveland Indians (4-2, $306): Manager Manny Acta’s Tribe bolted out to a great start last season only to falter down the stretch due to a myriad of injuries. While they’ve only gotten out to a 15-11 mark over the course of their first 26 games played, it’s a good enough record to sit atop the AL Central standings heading into the second week of May. Taking two of three at division rival Chicago was nice, but earning the home series win over the Rangers and holding them to a total of 10 runs was certainly the cherry on top of a solid week of work.
On The Docket: The Tribe has a loaded week ahead of them with four set to go vs. Chicago – including a doubleheader – before heading to Beantown to deal with a salty Red Sox outfit for four more.
Money Burners
Boston Red Sox (1-5, -$634): Just when you thought the BoSox had turned their season around by taking six of seven on the road, they returned home to Fenway and laid a huge egg in front of the hometown faithful. After pounding the A’s in the series opener 11-6, they went on to drop the next two and were then swept at home by the Baltimore Orioles for the first time since 1994. Pitching continues to ail Manager Bobby Valentine’s outfit as it checks in with a 5.36 ERA (#29), a 1.47 WHIP (#27), and has amassed just 12 quality starts (#25). Until that’s rectified, this club is going nowhere fast!
On The Docket: It’s back to the road for the Red Sox to start the week with three at Kansas City before returning home to host the Cleveland Indians for four; Boston’s won six of its L/7 vs. AL Central opposition.
Milwaukee Brewers (2-4, -$273): Even though Prince Fielder moved on for greener pastures this past off-season, Milwaukee was extremely confident in the roster it assembled to make up for his potent bat leaving its line-up. However, in a matter of just four days, the team’s starting first baseman (Mat Gamel), shortstop (Alex Gonzalez), and centerfielder (Carlos Gomez) have all been placed on the DL. Gamel is gone for the year with a torn ACL, while the others were put on the 15-day DL. Though this squad has been decimated due to injury, it wasn’t playing a solid brand of ball to begin with. It’s .228 batting average ranks 28th while its 4.88 team ERA ranks 27th – to make matters worse, the bullpen owns a 4.69 ERA and .276 BAA.
On The Docket: The Brew Crew will look to get healthy within the division this week at home against the Reds and Cubs; teams they’re 14-6 versus in the L/20 combined meetings.
Minnesota Twins (1-5, -$373): We stated last week that the Twins will more than likely be on this list more than any other team in the Bigs throughout the entirety of the 2012 season. Well, manager Ron Gardenhire’s squad didn’t disappoint this past week dropping five of six to the Angels and Mariners. Most disconcerting about the road trip was losing all three to a Halos squad that couldn’t hit its way out of a paper bag heading into the series. Still, LA’s pitching staff shut them out twice, including Jered Weaver’s perfect game - and outscored them 17-3 in the three-game set. King Felix almost tossed a no-no at them just two-days later! This club can’t hit and it’s pitching staff can’t get anyone out, so it should come as no surprise that they’re ranked amongst the worst in the league in both statistical categories.
On The Docket: The Twinkies return home to battle the Angels in a quick revenge series followed by four-games with Toronto; Joe Mauer and his mates have won just three of their 11 home games played to date (-$422).
