July 15th, 2006 by Jimmy Bones
MLB 2nd Half Preview: AL EAST
So now that the ever exciting All-Star game is history, we are ready to hit the 2nd half of the MLB season. And we here at The Healthy Scratch (which of late appears to just be me) thought what a better way to celebrate than to do up some more of our glorious previews, this time looking at the 2nd half of the MLB season. So here we go, boom-shaka-laka.
AL East
1st half review: This division has done what it’s always done and split into the have and have-nots pretty quickly. The only difference is that the Blue Jays have joined the Red Sox and Yankees in the “good team” category this year. The Orioles and Rays are their usual disastrous selves. The Red Sox currently lead the division by a game and a half over the Yanks, with the Jays lingering 4.5 games back.
Boston Red Sox
Record: 53-35
Surprise of the 1st half: Jonathan Papelbon. The unbearable Sox fans now have a big gun of a closer. I don’t think he’ll be as dominate in the 2nd half (just doesn’t have a high enough strikeout rate to be this unhittable), but he’s a keeper. Honorable mention to Mike Lowell who doesn’t suck anymore and Kevin Youkilis who’s emerged as a damn good player.
Disappointment of the 1st half: Jason Varitek. Catchers are known to wear out at a young age compared to the other players, and Varitek appears to be slowing down quickly. That 5 year deal they signed him to last year could end up being very painful by the time it ends. Honorable mention to Matt Clement, who’s lost all semblance of skill.
Likely to Improve in the 2nd half: Coco Crisp. There aren’t many options to pick from on this team. Josh Beckett gives up too many home runs to succeed in the AL and everyone else is playing up to their skill levels. Crisp should improve a bit in the 2nd half, although he’s not a great player by any stretch of the imagination.
Likely to decline in the 2nd half: Jon Lester. He just walks too many guys to keep up this pace. He’ll get blasted his 2nd time through the league.
Outlook: They should win this division. Their pitching is questionable, but then again so is everyone else’s in this division.
New York Yankees
Record: 51-36 (1.5 games back)
Surprise of the 1st half: Mike Mussina. He looked like a fading veteran in 2004 and 2005, but all of the sudden he’s turned back the clock and given the Yanks an ace at the top of their rotation. His 3.24 ERA would be his lowest since 2001. Honorable mention to Jaret Wright and Ron Villone for not being their usual sucky selves.
Disappointment of the 1st half: Randy Johnson. His strikeouts are down, his walks are up and he’s still giving up too many bombs. I guess even the best pitchers around can’t excel forever. Honorable mention to their front office for not having any outfield depth at all. Terrence Long anyone?
Likely to improve in the 2nd half: Alex Rodriguez. His overall numbers are good, but not Alex Rodriguez numbers. Why Yankee fans get all over this guy is beyond me, but he’ll be better in the 2nd half. Honorable mention: err, no one.
Likely to decline in the 2nd half: Jorge Posada. Another player having a turn-back-the-clock type of year. Posada could keep it up, but the Yankees have no depth at catcher (Kelly Stinnett?), so he’ll end up having to play too much and wear down. Honourable mention: Robinson Cano, no real reason but he’s not going to hit .325 for the year.
Outlook: They’ll be close, but pitching will let them down. 2nd place.
Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 49-40 (4.5 games back)
Surprise of the 1st half: Alex Rios. He came into 2006 with 11 career HRs in his 1st two season, he’s hit 15 so far this year. His numbers are better all across the board. Honorable mention: Reed Johnson, Frank Catalanotto.
Disappointment of the 1st half: AJ Burnett. He’s been hurt most of the year, but even when healthy he’s only had one good start. 235325 bazillion dollars should get you more than this. Honorable mention: Josh< Towers(9.11 ERA) and Russ Adams
Likely to improve in the 2nd half: The middle relievers. Jason Frasor should come back up sometime this year and pitch better. Brandon League is probably ready for MLB duty and Scott Schoeneweis is better than a 5.76 ERA would suggest.
Likely to decline in the 2nd half: Rios. Not only did he probably play over his head in the 1st half, he’s now going to have come back from a serious leg infection. Honorable Mention: Roy Halladay (his strikeout rate is getting dangerously low).
Outlook: The Jays need to decide if they are contending or not. If they are going to go for it, they need to get a SS (Julio Lugo?), move Hill back to 2nd base and staple Russ Adams to the bench, and they could use a decent starter (Kris Benson?) too. They could make noise, but they’ve got 3rd place team written all over them.
Baltimore Orioles
Record: 41-51 (14 games back)
Surprise of the 1st half: Ramon Hernandez. Hernandez is putting up the best season of his career and looking like a free agent bargain. Honorable mention: Umm… no one?
Disappointment of the 1st half: Bruce Chen. What happened to this guy? Last year he was a solid 3rd or 4th starter, this year he’s junk. 22 home runs in 68 innings isn’t going to do anyone any good. Honorable mention: Daniel Cabrera, Rodrigo Lopez, Leo Mazzone.
Likely to improve in the 2nd half: Eric Bedard. He’s steadily improved as the season has gone along. He should start to resemble the guy who dominated the 1st half of 2005 soon. Honorable Mention: Brian Roberts (should get some power back), Nick Markakis
Likely to decline in the 2nd half: Brandan Fahey. It’s pretty hard to pick anyone on this team since most of them have been pretty useless this year, but Fahey is probably playing over his head.
Outlook: They should try to move anyone who has any value and try to find some prospects somewhere. The future looks pretty bleak for the O’s.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Record: 39-51 (15 games back)
Surprise of the 1st half: Ty Wigginton. Who’d have expected 16 HRs from this guy? They should move him immediately if 
anyone will pay up for him. He’s the very definition of a ‘trade-high’ candidate. Honorable mention: Scott Kazmir (becoming a top starter before expected).
Disappointment of the 1st half: Travis Lee. Nothing like having your starting 1st baseman hitting a .199. Why not see if Jonny Gomes can play 1st base or else try a midget who might at least draw a few walks. Honorable mention: the entire bullpen
Likely to improve in the 2nd half: Jorge Cantu. Just having this guy healthy will be a boon to the Rays. Honorable mention: Dioner Navarro, he’s not a prototypical catcher, but will provide an OBP guy that the Rays desperately need.
Likely to decline in the 2nd half: Wigginton. See, this is why they should trade him now. There is no way he’s hits this way in the 2nd half. Greg Norton is another candidate.
Outlook: We should see some of the top prospects come up in the 2nd half. BJ Upton and Delmon Young should both see time and give the Rays a very dangerous offense. They need to find a few more arms, but doesn’t anyone. They should pass the Orioles at some point.
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