Climbing the Ladder with the American League 7/27/08

Trades, Trades, Trades plus more in this weeks Climbing the Ladder with the American League.

A.L. East	W	L	PCT.	GB	L10	STRK
Tampa Bay	61	42	.592	–	6-4	W2
Boston	60	45	.571	2.0	5-5	L2
New York	58	45	.563	3.0	9-1	W8
Toronto	53	51	.510	8.5	7-3	W5
Baltimore	48	55	.466	13.0	3-7	L5

Tampa Bay Rays
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	61	42
Runs Scored	354	112
Runs Allowed	153	269
Batting Average	.286	.216
On Base Percentage	.367	.285
Slugging Percentage	.459	.335
Home Runs	74	35
Home Runs Allowed	34	59
ERA	2.23	6.21

The Tampa Bay Rays finish another week in first place.  Rays rookie Evan Longoria leads all rookies with 19 home runs and only 2 American League rookies have had as many home runs at this point in the season in the last 20 years.  Longoria looks to be the clear choice for AL Rookie of the Year.

Boston Red Sox
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	60	45
Runs Scored	380	140
Runs Allowed	161	271
Batting Average	.313	.229
On Base Percentage	.389	.303
Slugging Percentage	.506	.349
Home Runs	80	34
Home Runs Allowed	40	50
ERA	2.42	5.85

The Boston Red Sox got slugger David Ortiz back this weekend and despite losing their first two games of a three game series against the Yankees will look to take the final game of the series tonight.  Manny Ramirez missed the first two game of the series with an apparent knee injury but many in the Boston area seem to think that Ramirez is trying to play out of the two $20 Million options the Red Sox hold on him.  If Ramirez were allowed to become a free agent at the end of the season, the likelyhood of him receiving a 4 or 5 year deal would greatly increase.  If the Sox were to pick up Manny’s options in 2009 and 2010 he would be 39 years old once he becomes a free agent and it would be tough to receive a long term contract at that age.

New York Yankees
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	58	45
Runs Scored	366	119
Runs Allowed	146	281
Batting Average	.301	.226
On Base Percentage	.376	.295
Slugging Percentage	.472	.342
Home Runs	67	31
Home Runs Allowed	33	52
ERA	2.36	6.05

The New York Yankees have not lost since the All Star break and have creepd to within 3 games of the American League East leading Tampa Bay Rays.  New York has made moves to ensure their success continues by adding Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte.  Robinson Cano continues to have success in the second half hitting in .514 over a span of 8 games.  Cano became just the 4th player to collect at least 18 hits and 10 RBI’s in the teams first 8 games after the break.

Toronto Blue Jays
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	53	51
Runs Scored	313	138
Runs Allowed	136	277
Batting Average	.299	.222
On Base Percentage	.374	.299
Slugging Percentage	.457	.315
Home Runs	49	24
Home Runs Allowed	33	59
ERA	2.35	5.09

Alex Rios has continued his hot streak, hitting two home runs in yesterdays game.  After a slow start to the season, Rios has made his presence known hitting 4 homeruns in his last 7 games while hitting .344.  It may be too late for Rio’s to rescue the Jay’s season as Toronto is now 8.5 games out of first place in talent rich American League East.

Baltimore Orioles
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	48	55
Runs Scored	320	169
Runs Allowed	181	322
Batting Average	.304	.220
On Base Percentage	.373	.287
Slugging Percentage	.503	.358
Home Runs	68	48
Home Runs Allowed	49	66
ERA	3.56	5.79

The Baltimore Orioles season has been over for a while but the O’s may be able to greatly improve their team if they trade away some of their talent before Thursdays trade deadline.  The five players Baltimore recieved in the Tejada and Bedard deals have already made quite an impact in their first seasons with the team.

A.L. Central	W	L	PCT.	GB	L10	STRK
Chicago	59	43	.578	–	6-4	W4
Minnesota	56	47	.544	3.5	4-6	W1
Detroit	51	51	.505	7.5	6-4	L2
Cleveland	45	57	.441	14.0	6-4	L1
Kansas City	46	59	.438	14.5	3-7	L2

Chicago White Sox
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	59	43
Runs Scored	407	106
Runs Allowed	187	241
Batting Average	.293	.227
On Base Percentage	.371	.289
Slugging Percentage	.514	.349
Home Runs	106	33
Home Runs Allowed	46	44
ERA	2.69	5.36

The Chicago White Sox’s have been rumored to be surveying the relief market now that Scott Linebrink’s shoulder is bothering him.  With the Twins playing well it will be that Chicago keep it’s bullpen strong.  Rookie Alexi Ramirez has been on fire, hitting .400 in his last 16 games and remains among the American League rookie leaders in average, slugging, multi hit games, hits, extra base hits, RBI’s and home runs.

Minnesota Twins
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	56	47
Runs Scored	378	128
Runs Allowed	171	314
Batting Average	.317	.231
On Base Percentage	.375	.285
Slugging Percentage	.471	.331
Home Runs	47	24
Home Runs Allowed	46	67
ERA	2.75	6.37

Minnesota has proven that they can hang in the American League Central and will host the division leading Chicago White Sox for four games begining on Monday.  The Twins will have their best chance of the season of taking over first place and will hope their success at home will help them.  Minnesota is 34-19 in the Metrodome while the White Sox are 24-27 on the road.

Detroit Tigers
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	52	51
Runs Scored	387	131
Runs Allowed	177	310
Batting Average	.326	.220
On Base Percentage	.389	.291
Slugging Percentage	.536	.334
Home Runs	79	39
Home Runs Allowed	32	57
ERA	3.05	5.88

The Detroit Tigers have won 28 of the teams last 43 games and are in dire need of a strong run of consecutive wins.  With Detroit now just 6.5 games our of first, a decent hot streak could really pull them into contention.  The Tigers have the potential to seperate themselves from the rest of the American League Central if they can just finally put it all together.

Cleveland Indians
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	45	57
Runs Scored	297	173
Runs Allowed	110	358
Batting Average	.289	.221
On Base Percentage	.369	.286
Slugging Percentage	.484	.346
Home Runs	63	41
Home Runs Allowed	26	87
ERA	2.35	6.06

The Ceveland Indians have proven to be big time sellers in this years trade market.  After moving CC Sabathia a few weeks ago, the Indians sent Casey Blake to the Dodgers. Cleveland will look to their newly aquired talent to help them in ‘09 when they can start fresh and put the disappointing 2008 season behind them.

Kansas City Royals
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	46	59
Runs Scored	253	182
Runs Allowed	120	400
Batting Average	.289	.237
On Base Percentage	.345	.289
Slugging Percentage	.454	.329
Home Runs	46	29
Home Runs Allowed	31	77
ERA	2.43	6.55

The Royals have been rumored to be working a deal with the Yankees in which Kansas City would move SP Brian Bannister for OF Melky Cabrera. According to the site MLBTradeRumors.com, David DeJesus would move to left, Cabrerra would play center and Mark Tehan would move back to his natural position of first base.

A.L. West	W	L	PCT.	GB	L10	STRK
Los Angeles	64	39	.621	–	9-1	W4
Oakland	54	50	.519	10.5	5-5	W2
Texas	52	51	.505	12.0	1-9	L3
Seattle	38	65	.369	26.0	2-8	L7

Los Angeles Angels
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	64	39
Runs Scored	345	120
Runs Allowed	173	252
Batting Average	.279	.229
On Base Percentage	.344	.284
Slugging Percentage	.441	.327
Home Runs	74	23
Home Runs Allowed	48	53
ERA	2.47	6.27

The Angels have been rumored to be active in the Mark Teixeira trade market.  The addition of Teixeira would solidify Los Angeles already strong hold on the American League West.  The Angeles have been rumored to have offered Joe Saunders and Casey Kotchman to Atlanta but couldn’t get the deal done.  Los Angeles’ offense has begun to heat up as of late but the addition of Teixeira would make them even more dangerous.

Oakland Athletics
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	52	51
Runs Scored	336	100
Runs Allowed	131	259
Batting Average	.289	.200
On Base Percentage	.368	.266
Slugging Percentage	.444	.288
Home Runs	52	23
Home Runs Allowed	32	46
ERA	2.18	5.01

Oakland has a few more major trade piece left in its arsenal in Justin Duchscherer and Huston Street. Street has been drawing the attention of a number of contending teams while the Rockies have inquired about Duchscherer.  The A’s could improve what is  alraedy considered the best farm system in baseball by moving either of these two arms.

Texas Rangers
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	54	50
Runs Scored	383	197
Runs Allowed	206	404
Batting Average	.314	.242
On Base Percentage	.386	.309
Slugging Percentage	.532	.377
Home Runs	87	42
Home Runs Allowed	42	70
ERA	3.24	7.43

The Texas Rangers really need pitching to help that offense get some wins.  Texas is expected to be one of the top bidders in the 2009 CC Sabathia sweepstakes and the Rangers could really use an arm like that.  Texas could move one of their catchers before the trade deadline but if they don’t they will look to the off season to improve their roster.

Seattle Mariners
2008
	Wins	Losses
Games	38	65
Runs Scored	213	189
Runs Allowed	88	393
Batting Average	.296	.230
On Base Percentage	.358	.283
Slugging Percentage	.437	.332
Home Runs	30	47
Home Runs Allowed	20	71
ERA	2.05	5.70

The Seattle Mariners’ could move a number of different players before Thursday in hopes of making their team better in 2009.  Raul Ibanez has been rumored to be on the Met’s list of outfielders but his price may be too high.  The Yankees have also inquired about Jarrod Washburn and would be willing to move a mid level prospect for his services.