Red Sox, Yankees could both miss playoffs
It's no stretch to say AL East rivals could both be out for first time since '93
Winslow Townson / APThe Red Sox need a healthy Josh Beckett to survive the stretch run, NBCSports.com contributor Tony DeMarco writes.
Q: Who are your picks for MVPs in both leagues?
— Tim, Spokane, Wash.
A: It’s only natural to begin speculating on potential MVPs at this point of the season, but I’ve seen more than a few races change dramatically due to what happens in the final month of the season. So we’re really only guessing at this point, based on what’s happened to date.
There is no clear-cut NL candidate, so especially in this case, the final six weeks are going to decide things. Here’s my short list of candidates, in no particular order: David Wright, Chase Utley, Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez, Lance Berkman and Ryan Braun.
Based on numbers — and not his team’s position in the standings — Pujols get the slight edge in my mind. But if the Cardinals don’t get the wild card, I’d be a bit surprised if Pujols gets the MVP. That could open the way for the others — especially Wright, Braun and Utley — as it seems as if Ramirez’s Marlins and Berkman’s Astros probably won’t be a part of the playoff field.
And by the way, CC Sabathia as an MVP candidate is ridiculous; he’d have to go 15-1/16-0 to get serious Cy Young Award consideration, let alone some MVP votes. If you want a long-shot MVP pick, the Cubs’ Geovany Soto (who will be the NL Rookie of the Year) is a better choice than Sabathia.
Things aren’t very clear in the AL, either, as the two teams who probably are going to the playoffs — the Angels and Rays — don’t have outstanding candidates. That leaves a short list of Carlos Quentin, Josh Hamilton, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Kevin Youkilis and perhaps Alex Rodriguez if he keys an unexpected Yankees’ push to the playoffs. Your guess is as good as mine at this point, and I’ll say it again, getting to the playoffs will be a very key factor here because there is no standout candidate.
Q: Will the St. Louis Cardinals get a closer soon? If they do, will they win the wild card?
– Mike, Great Falls, Mont.
A: Rookie Chris Perez has done a pretty good job of it lately, converting all four of his save opportunities, but hasn’t been designated as ‘the guy’ just yet.
The possibility of Adam Wainwright moving back into that role has disappeared for now, as he will come off the disabled list and go into the rotation Friday. Wainwright prefers to start — rather than be the Cards’ fourth closer this season — and that’s where he’ll stay at least until Chris Carpenter can come off the disabled list in a couple of weeks. But even then, the Cards might stick with Wainwright in the rotation, and possibly make a waiver deal for Brian Fuentes or another available reliever who clears waivers.
One thing we do know is that Jason Isringhausen’s continuing elbow problems probably will cost him the rest of this season, and could jeopardize his career. As for the wild card, I’ll stick to my earlier call for the Brewers to win it and end their long postseason drought.
Q: Who do you think will come out of the National League East?
—Steve, Philadelphia
A: It’s still a toss-up, Steve, but if I have to pick right now, I’ll lean to the Mets. They have a slight lead, but as we found out last season, even a big lead can disappear in a hurry down the stretch. But I don’t think you’ll see a repeat of the Mets’ collapse of last September.
Jerry Manuel has done an excellent job setting a better tone in replacing Willie Randolph. In contrast, Jimmy Rollins has been more disappointment than MVP candidate, and Ryan Howard’s low average and strikeouts are a far cry from him carrying the team in his 2006 MVP season.
Pedro Martinez has given the Mets a few good starts, deepening a rotation that has an edge over Philadelphia’s. The bullpen edge definitely goes to the Phillies, however, as Billy Wagner’s lingering elbow issues will keep him out for at least three more weeks.
The Mets already have added Luis Ayala, claimed on waivers from Washington, and you have to think they will make another move. Eric Gagne and David Riske — among others — have cleared waivers, and Brian Fuentes is expected to be placed on waivers within the next week (although he figures to be claimed long before the Mets would get a crack at him. Claims go in reverse order of the standings).
The schedules are pretty evenly matched down the stretch, and both teams will finish at home in the final week. It’s too bad they won’t play each other after a three-game series at Shea Stadium that concludes Sept. 7. That could set up a lot of scoreboard watching in Shea and Citizens Bank Park over the final three weeks.
Q: Do MLB teams scout at the Olympics to find international talent?
— Frankie Johnson, New York
A: They sure do, Frankie – or should we say they sure did, as baseball won’t be an Olympic sport in the 2012 games and possibly beyond? International scouting has become a big part of teams’ operations, especially in places where new talent pipelines could develop, such as the Pacific Rim.
The Yankees, for one, have signed an agreement with the Chinese baseball federation, hoping eventually to land big-league talent. And even though baseball won’t be part of the Olympics, the flow of worldwide talent to our major leagues will continue, as the sport grows internationally with a big boost from MLB through sponsorship of the World Baseball Classic, and other efforts to grow the game abroad.
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