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Home / Archive: 20. March 2009
by John Botelho… Every year, players in the MLB take their individual performances to a new level. Sometimes it’s a player who becomes a superstar, or a backup becomes an everyday regular.
Last season, players like Nate McClouth and Carlos Quentin went from relative unknowns to All-Stars with MVP upside. Chad Billingsley and Tim Lincecum established themselves as bona fide aces, while Andre Ethier and Jed Lowrie both played their way into everyday roles.
Check out this year’s breakout candidates in the AL East.
2009 A.L. East Breakout Candidates
Baltimore Orioles: Matt Wieters has collected much of the Orioles publicity over the last year and he could be perhaps their biggest breakout candidate for becoming a household name over the next six months.
Beyond the catcher who is supposed to be an organization’s savior, several other O’s could break through this season.
One very bright spot in an otherwise dull scene in Baltimore over the last few years has been Nick Markakis. The face of the franchise could become one of the faces of the MLB this year.
He hit .306 with 20 homers as a 24-year old last summer, and will likely improve on ever front this year. With the ability to have upwards of 70 extra-base hits he and Wieters will form a very talented and very young duo in the middle of the Orioles lineup for years to come.
Adam Jones will also take steps towards being a go-to guy for Baltimore. He has more power coming and could push 20 homers this season. The Orioles are also primed to have one of the game’s better relief pitchers.
Chris Ray had taken steps towards being a lights out closer before needing Tommy John surgery. He’s healthy again and should start to pitch his way towards All-Star consideration.
Boston Red Sox: The Sox had some of the most impactful breakout players in baseball last year. Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis became MVP-caliber players, while Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka were among the best pitchers in the American League.
This year’s class of potential breakout players doesn’t offer the same depth as the one a season ago, but quite a few names could be added to the list of impact Red Sox players before 2009 comes to an end.
The player with the most potential to join Pedroia and Youkilis (as well as a healthy David Ortiz) in MVP discussions is Jason Bay. Bay will finally get to spend an entire season on a team that hasn’t been mired in losing season since Aladdin was on the big screen and gas was $1.05 a gallon.
He will bring his career line of .282 .375 .516 to Fenway Park and hit in the middle of one of the most potent lineups in the MLB. Bay, who has never had a top-10 MVP finish, could easily put together a full season of the numbers he showed Sox fans over the final two months of 2008.
If he can produce at that level, Bay would wind up with more than 30 homer and 40 doubles. Add in over 100 runs scored and 100 batted in, and he could be the second consecutive Bostonian to capture the A.L. award.
Several others could take steps to establish themselves as household names. J.D. Drew who has shown flashes of being an elite player whose been hampered by injuries. Drew’s ability to get on-base could result in an absurd run total if he can stay healthy and would also enter the MVP discussion as a result.
Jacoby Ellsbury put together a solid year at the top of the Red Sox order last season, and should be even better this time around. Once Ellsbury puts all of his talent together, he’s going to hit .300 annually, while being near the top of the leader boards in runs and steals throughout his career.
Justin Masterson did whatever Boston needed him to last year, and will have the opportunity to spend this entire season in the big league bullpen. He flashed a fastball that was at times electric, and if the team didn’t have Jonathan Papelbon embedded as their closer, he’d be a candidate to finish games.
New York Yankees: The Yankees clearly demonstrated frustration with the lack of recent success throwing more money than Ft. Knox could’ve at CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira. The team still has a few question marks that they will look to internal options to fill.
Brett Gardner looks like the team’s center fielder because Melky Cabrera refused to grab hold of the job last year. Gardner could become a prolific run-scorer and base-stealer at the major league level and as long as he doesn’t flop will begin to showcase that this year.
One other big hole the Yankees have is filling the void Joba Chamberlain left when he moved to the rotation. At some point this season, Jonathan Albaladejo could assume the pre-Rivera role. He has pitched well in brief stints in the Bronx the last two years, and could rack up K’s and holds with a regular spot in their pen.
Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays broke out as an organization last year as they reversed their fortunes from perpetual loser to AL Champions in just one season. It took their pitching staff and offense enjoying a number of coming out parties and several players putting together career years to do so, but the team appears to be primed for continued success.
Matt Garza will be an “x-factor” in that success. His ERA will fall a bit, the win total will go up, and he will join James Shields and Scott Kazmir as some of the best arms in the AL.
On the offensive side BJ Upton looks ready to arrive in full-force. He has flashed quality ability in the past but his playoff performance last year indicates he is on the verge of putting everything together.
Upton could be a .300 average guy, who hits 30 homers and steals 30 bases. In that lineup, he’ll also push 100 runs and RBI and his center-field defense will be above average.
Grant Balfour used a power fastball to establish himself as a very good big league reliever. It won’t be long before Rays management asks the Australian to assume the closer role at which points his stock will look like Yahoo’s.
Toronto Blue Jays: The Jays have a ton of talent close to making an impact at the big league level (Travis Snider, JP Arencibia, Brett Cecil, among others) but need some of the guys already their to become the players they were projected to be if the club wants to be successful in the near future.
Aaron Hill can be one of the best 2B in baseball if he can stay on the field this year. Hill will be looked to put together a similar offensive card to the one he did in 2007. If he can slug over .450 again he could score 100 runs with the Jays offense filled with plenty of guys who could knock him in from scoring position.
Jesse Carlson needs to build off last year and prove he is going to be another very reliable arm in their bullpen in front B.J. Ryan. His ability to strike guys out could make him one of the better eighth guys in the American League.
Someone has to fill the void left by Burnett’s payday. Former first-round pick David Purcey reached the show last year, and while he won’t win 18 the way the departed-Burnett did, he has the ability to begin establishing himself as a reliable big league arm.
The Blue Jays would be ecstatic if he shows signs of being a guy they could on in the front half of their rotation.
by Jack Porter… This weeks piece may not be directly on the blue and white, but you better believe the Leafs are taking a good hard look at most of these guys.
July 1 is a celebration for NHL general managers, a Christmas if you will. This Christmas however they buy their own presents.
Free agency is a beautiful thing a team can go from a pretender to a contender with a few well thought out moves on this day, but beware sometimes bad contracts can handcuff a team for years to come ( cough co ** Jason Blake** ugh cough).
1. Henrik Sedin - Van
Leafs Interested
Current Salary: $3.575 million
Notes:
- Will only play on a team that signs his brother also
- Connections to Leafs GM Brian Burke
- Him and his brother looking for upwards of $6,000,000 each
2. Johan Franzen - Det
Leafs Could Be Interested
Current Salary: $1.15 million
Notes:
- Looking for big raise
- Red Wings won’t be able to pay him the money he wants
- Performance may drop off if he plays with less skilled teammates
3. Saku Koivu - Mon
Leafs Not Interested
Current Salary: $4.75 million
Notes:
- First choice is Montreal
- May get a pay cut
- Could be pushed out by Alex Kovalev
4. Mike Cammalleri - Cgy
Leafs Interested
Current Salary: $3.6 million
Notes:
- Interest in the Leafs
- May be looking for a raise
- Could be expensive for Calgary to keep him in the mix
5. Nik Antropov - NYR
Leafs Not Interested
Current Salary: $2.15 million
Note:
- Will not return to the Leafs
- Will generate lots of interest
6. Bobby Holik - NJ
Leafs Not Interested
Current Salary: $2.5 million
Notes:
- Won’t command a big salary
- Retirement is an option
- New Jersey will likely be the only interested team
7. Viktor Kozlov - Was
Leafs Not Interested
Current Salary: $2.5 million
Notes:
- Won’t get big bucks
- Will stay in Washington
8. Mike Comrie - OTT
Leafs Could Be Interested
Current Salary: $4 million
Notes:
- Ottawa would like to keep him
- Could command a pretty penny
9. Samuel Pahlsson - Chi
Leafs Could Be Interested
Current Salary: $1.4 million
Notes:
- Connections to Burke
- An affordable gritty third line scorer
10. Dominic Moore - Buf
Leafs Interested
Current Salary: $900,000
Notes:
- Looking for too much money
- Will return to Toronto after he realizes he is asking for too much
- Burke still wants him
by Mike Allder… Bill Gardner played center for the Chicago Blackhawks back in October 1982. A quick, journeyman fourth-line offensive checker, Bill would toil for the ‘Hawks in the starting lineup for five seasons; he would spend another four seasons alternating between bus travel and plane travel.
After stints in the minors Bill would finish his pro career with four seasons in Austria.
It was the early morning of Oct. 17, 1982. I, along with my new bride, were at Toronto International Airport waiting for our honeymoon flight to Florida. We had been married the day before and like most weddings it had been on a Saturday.
Now don’t get me wrong, I was overjoyed to be married and looked forward to a long life with my new wife. My friend Paul, who had been one of my ushers also got up early to drive us to the airport and he decided to wait and see us off.
The previous night we had left our reception at about nine and gone to my grandmother’s apartment to get changed before heading back, spending the last couple hours thanking and handing out stupid doily-wrapped wedding cake to our guest.
The first thing I did when I got to the apartment was turn the television on so as to catch the last period of the Leaf, Blackhawks game. I whipped off my rented tux, those fake leather shiny shoes and that ugly bow tie, all while watching the game. We had told our guest that we would back within the hour since my grandmothers apartment was about 10 minutes away.
We were now going to be late since we had driven over with my other usher Bruce and now his rusty old truck was not going to start. It was freezing cold that night and his battery was dead. Bonus, back up to the apartment to catch the end of the game, the Leafs lost 3-2.
It was almost two hours by the time we were able to get ourselves back to the North York Veterans Hall. My hockey buddies were all convinced that I had snuck in a “quickie” with my new bride. That is why they all assumed we were so late. “No the battery died and I watched the Leaf game.”
Back at the reception my N.W.A.A. hockey team had all changed into their hockey jerseys and we all partied the night away dancing and carousing and rock’ in to the many Stones songs that I had requested from the only non-hockey fan in the room that night, our DJ.
We were all sweaty and tired. It was as if we had all been out playing our usual Saturday night game at Forest Hill Arena.
While at the airport I spotted Denis Savard. I quickly figured out that the Blackhawks would be catching an early flight back home for an evening game against Detroit. I left my new bride standing alone with our luggage as Paul and me would set out to find and get an autograph from ‘Hawk legend goalie Tony Esposito.
We scoured the complete departure level we could not find him anywhere. We saw many other players but not Tony. He had played goal the night before so he had to be there. But where?
I spotted Bill Gardner and walked over to inquire as to where Tony ‘O’ could be. Billy told us that Tony hides in one of the private lounges and just stays to himself. I guess it was one of those ‘goalie things’. It was at that moment that my wife had spotted us and carrying the two bags scurried over to where Paul, Billy and myself were standing.
I introduced her to Bill as if we were old long time friends. We explained to Bill that we had been married the day before and were on our way to Florida for our honeymoon. After congratulating us, Billy left to catch his flight.
The weeks passed and for whatever reason my wife and I were now standing inside Maple Leaf Gardens. We were not just inside the Gardens, we were standing behind the visitor’s bench and the Chicago Blackhawks were just coming onto the ice for morning practice.
I still do not remember exactly why we were right at the bench that day but we were.
I spotted number 14 Bill Gardner skating by the bench. “Billy” I hollered loudly. He turned his head and came right over immediately. He took off his glove and held out his hand to shake mine. I was bewildered he obviously had me confused with someone else. “How are ya ?” he said as I shook his hand.
“Billy I think you got me confused with someone else,” still puzzled by his friendliness. “No I remember last time we were in Toronto I met you and your new wife at the airport before you went on your honeymoon.” I was dumbfounded. “You remember? That was back in October.”
He put his glove back on. “How could I forget you? You left your beautiful wife just standing alone in the airport while you looked for Espo.” he said has he skated away, confusingly shaking his head.
It was mid-February and I had been married four months already and here, this pro hockey player with all the travelling, all the people he must meet remembers our insignificant obscure chance meeting.
Was it that strange? Was it that bizarre what I had done that October day? I mean, I had what I thought would be the rest of my life with this woman.
How many opportunities does one get to meet Tony Esposito?
Years later I was given a small wooden sign that hangs on my door to this day. It reads “We interrupt this marriage to bring you the hockey season.” Little did my ex-wife realize that the interruption would begin on the second day of our marriage.
vy Barney Corkhill… In this series I will look at the greatest talents to grace various sports. I continue to look at soccer, this time counting down the top ten left-backs of all time.
Enjoy!
10. Emlyn Hughes (ENG)
The former England and Liverpool captain, nicknamed “Crazy Horse” for a now infamous rugby tackle on Newcastle’s Albert Bennett, was one of the key members of Shankly’s, and later Paisley’s, great Liverpool team of the ’70s.
Predictably, then, his trophy haul is rather impressive. He won four Division One titles, an FA Cup, two UEFA Cups and two European Cups in his twelve years at Anfield. He later added a League Cup to that list with Wolves.
He was named the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1977, and played for England 62 times, leading them out on 23 occasions.
9. Denis Irwin (IRE)
A lynch-pin of the great Manchester United team of the ’90s, Denis Irwin experienced a long and successful career. He was a deadly set-piece taker who often challenged even David Beckham when it came to free-kick duties.
In his 12 years stint at United, he won a lot of silverware, including seven Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup, a Cup Winners’ Cup, and a Champions League. He was a key part of the 1999 treble winning side.
For the Republic of Ireland, Irwin made 56 appearances before he retired after he was told to “go out and prove himself.”
8. Bixente Lizarazu (FRA)
Despite his lack of height, Lizarazu made a name for himself as one of the best attacking full-backs of recent times. His time at Bayern Munich and in the “Golden era” of French football helped him become the most decorated player in French football history.
At club level he has won two French league titles, six German league titles, five German Cups, four German League Cups and a Champions League, while at international level he helped France to success in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
In all, he made 97 appearances for France. Another trophy he won was the Intercontinental trophy in 2001, which made him the first player to be a European champion and World champion on both international and club level at the same time.
7. Jose Antonio Camacho (SPA)
Camacho made his debut for Real Madrid aged just 18, and then made his final appearance for the same club 16 years later. In all he played over 400 league matches for them, cementing his place as one of the best defenders in their history.
In his time there, he won nine La Liga titles, and four Spanish Cups, as well as appearing in two World Cups and two European Championships for Spain. Overall, he made 81 appearances for the national team.
6. Andreas Brehme (GER)
Brehme could hit a free-kick or spray a long pass as well as anyone in world football and, whats more, he could do it with both feet. He was a great attacking full-back who scored for every team he ever played for.
In his 17-year career, Brehme won two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup, a UEFA Cup, and a Serie A title at club level, while at international level he won the 1990 World Cup and was part of the team that came runners-up four years earlier, and then again two years later in the European Championships.
He scored the winning goal in that 1990 World Cup final, just one of his eight international goals in 86 matches for Germany.
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