Kuzul

I think people are starting to get the idea. If you don’t get the idea yet, then you are either an exceptionally optimistic fan, or delusional.

The San Francisco Giants are not a good baseball team.

Perhaps they were at one point in the season. Perhaps they were until the acquisition of Carlos Beltran. But they certainly aren’t now.

Granted, they have extraordinary pitching. Ryan Vogelsong threw seven innings of two earned-run ball, and remains second in the league in ERA.

The key word in the previous sentence is earned. Errors by Mark DeRosa and Nate Schierholtz enabled the Houston Astros to score three unearned runs off of Vogelsong. Guillermo Mota’s bogus home run to Bogusevic extended the lead to 6-0, which turned out to be the final score of the ballgame.

Realistically, though, it wouldn’t have mattered if Vogelsong had pitched a shutout—he still would have received a no decision at best.

The San Francisco Giants were completely baffled by left hander Wandy Rodriguez, who, like so many pitchers, had his finest outing of the season against the Giants’ hapless offense.

While the Giants are still only 2.5 games out of first place behind the Arizona Diamondbacks, the deficit seems nigh insurmountable.

In fact, a more realistic goal for the Giants this season than the playoffs is to finish the season above .500. At 67-59, the Giants would need to go 14-22 to finish the season at .500. Given the way this team has been playing recently, even that goal seems lofty.

The excellent Bleacher Report sportswriter Manny Randhawa will have to search deep into his bag of tricks to justify the Giants’ “excellence” in losing 6-0 to a team that was 44 games under .500 coming into the ballgame.

“It’s only just one game.” But is it? Is it really? Or is this game just an accurate representation of a disturbing trend?

One thing is certain: People should be fired after tonight’s travesty. Or at least demoted. Or, if Bruce Bochy prefers, they should come up with a mysterious foot strain. Mark DeRosa and Aaron Rowand are two examples of this type of person who does not belong on a Major League baseball field, contract or no. It’s already a “sunk cost.”

Am I overreacting? Is this a knee jerk reaction? I don’t think so. These are calculated statements backed up by on-field performances and statistics.

The Giants need to dramatically overhaul their lineup to put a competitive team on the field, or risk seeing their attendance and reputation plummet.

Not to mention, the Giants should be interested in keeping the sole bright spot on the team (pitching) intact. With free agency looming in the not too distant future for Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, do you think either starter would be willing to play for a team wherein they get no offensive support?

Regardless of the pitchers’ unflappable coolness in the clubhouse in the face of losing and shouldering of responsibility for each loss, you know that these pitchers want to win. Not only do they want to win, they want to win championships.

And no team ranked last in the league in offense has ever made the playoffs, let alone won a championship.

In conclusion, if the Giants come out and score seven runs tomorrow, please save your “I Told You So’s.” After scoring seven runs against the Braves in game three of their series, they have been shut out twice consecutively.

For those keeping track, that is an average of 2.33 runs per game.

Even the lowly Giants are capable of scoring seven runs once in a while. A playoff caliber professional baseball club, however, will perform on a regular basis and demonstrate at least a modicum of consistency.

Madison Bumgarner (7-11, 3.49ERA) pitches next against Jordan Lyles (1-7, 5.31ERA). The ingredients are in place for a 5-3 Giants victory, if each pitcher pitches to their potential. Something tells me, however, that Bumgarner will lower his ERA once again, and loss number twelve will materialize as he is out-dueled by Roger Clemens…er…Jordan Lyles. 

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If spring training is any indication how the season will go, the Astros will most likely be sellers come trade deadline time.

The Astros have given up 108 runs in 17 games, 20 more runs than the next closest team in the Grapefruit League. They are sitting currently in last place with a record of 5-12.

Even though they have struggled, they do have some players who could be attractive to teams and could help them make a push for the playoffs in 2011. Now, I don’t expect all these players to be traded, but I think the Astros would be willing to move them if the price is right.

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Now that the initial shock is over from the news that Jason Castro will be out for almost the entire 2011 season with a torn ACL, the Houston Astros need to go into damage control and figure out what they want to do with the catcher situation.

They could head into the season relying on their current catchers, Humberto Quintero and J.R. Towles, but they have hit a combined .221 in their major league careers.

There are still some interesting options at the catcher position available as free agents, the biggest name being Bengie Molina. The problem with Molina is that his skills at the plate have rapidly declined over the past few years and he has almost no speed on the base paths.

If the Astros are not comfortable with either of the two situations above, they could also acquire a catcher via trade. The team that makes the most sense to try and work a trade out with is the New York Yankees, as they have a number of quality catchers and are looking for help in their starting rotation.

The Yankees have two top prospects at the catcher position in Jesus Montero, who was rated the third-best prospect in the minor league system by Baseball America, and Austin Romine, who just made the list at 98th. The scouting report on Romine is that he is the better defensive catcher of the two, but still needs to improve his plate discipline.

Romine was picked in the second round of the 2007 draft, but Russell Martin, Jorge Posada, Francisco Cervelli (who broke his foot and may be out for all of April) and Montero are all ahead of him in the Yankees’ system, so Romine has a very slim chance of seeing the major leagues any time soon.

So it would make sense for the Yankees to contact the Astros to gauge their interest in possibly swinging a trade that would send lefty Wandy Rodriguez to them for Romine. The Astros are pretty deep in pitching this year and are now extremely weak at the catcher position with Castro going down.

Now, the question is if the Astros would consider a trade like this. I believe it doesn’t make sense for them right now. The problem with Romine is that some believe he isn’t ready for The Show, and if that’s the case, he won’t be able to help the Astros.

If the Astros don’t believe that Castro can come back 100 percent or handle the full-time duties in 2012, then I would offer Rodriguez for Romine.

However, I think it may be a little early to count out Castro, and while going through 2011 with J.R. Towles and Humberto Quintero is not a great option, it is the best option.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Astros are about two weeks into spring training and played their first game yesterday. I am sure no one wanted to start off the 2011 season like they did, falling to the Atlanta Braves 13-3.

However, after only nine innings of real baseball and a handful of practices, here are 10 things that we have already learned about this team.

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The Twins haven’t won a World Series since the 1991 team beat the Bobby Cox led Braves. Ever since then it has been quite a rocky road for the team in the Twin Cities. In the playoffs, they have gone 6-21 since 2002 and 0-9 since 2004. Their most hated postseason opponents are clearly the New York Yankees, who have eliminated them the last two times the Twins have made the playoffs (2009 and 2010).

The last two years, it should be noted that the Twins weren’t 100 percent healthy going into the playoffs. They were without their MVP first baseman Justin Morneau in 2009 and 2010 and were also without All-Star closer Joe Nathan in 2010.

While the 2011 team looks to be quite the same as the team from last year, they will still need to add another ace quality pitcher to the rotation with Fransisco Liriano and Carl Pavano. They might also look at some more quality bats.  

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Now that the least interesting World Series in years is finally over, all 30 MLB teams can again have hopes and dreams for the upcoming season. Most of the 2010 playoff teams are again favorites heading into the off-season, but there is always yearly change in who makes the playoffs. 

The following list is mostly compiled of teams who were not competitive at all late into the year. The teams are in order of how much change their 2011 season will be from their respective 2010 seasons. A major motif for these teams is how their youth will take it to the next level.

Here are the teams that were considered afterthoughts in 2010, but who are going to surprise everyone in the 2011 season. 

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With the 2010 regular season behind us, and all the normal MLB trade rumors completed, why not take the opportunity to discuss who will be headlining the Trade Rumor department in 2011?

The free agency market next year is rather large, and there are a number of players that could be mentioned here, so I will simply take a look at who I believe will be some big names taking center stage.

I’ll try to look at each position, and throw in a wildcard player that could be the next diamond in the rough.

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As fantasy owners, we’ve all been burned.  We know what it feels like, and the stages of remorse that comes with it.

First, there’s denial. Denial that the player you coveted on draft day could really be this terrible, and that all your research and preparation was, well, dead wrong.

Then comes anger. Angst at said player for his exceeding levels of sucktitude.  You drafted him early enough where he still gets free passes after a slow start/poor outing, but there’s only so much a self respecting owner can take.

Finally, acceptance.

Ah, who am I kidding? The third stage is only more anger.  Followed by kicking that player to the free agent curb the same way Uncle Phil used to hoist DJ Jazzy Jeff onto his lawn in “Fresh Prince of Bel Aire.”

For those in roto leagues, these pitchers have not only burned a hole in your ERA, but one deep inside the carpals of your heart as well with their astounding rebound performances in the second half.  They’ve been dropped, forgotten about, left for dead, and left you with the open wounds of a team ERA that still hasn’t dipped blow 4.00.

It’s like going through a messy divorce with your wife, losing half your belongings and property in the process, only to find out just months later she’s met a charming Wall Street CEO with a mansion and fountain that spits Courvoisier.

And she’s pregnant.

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The Houston Astros embark upon another home-stand when they begin a four-game series with the New York Mets tonight at 7:05 p.m. CST at Minute Maid Park.

Houston, entering the contest after a three-game sweep over the Pittsburgh Pirates, will be facing a Mets team that has lost two in a row.

Lefty Wandy Rodriguez will be taking the mound for the Astros in tonight’s game, while New York’s Jonathon Niese will be the southpaw on the hill for the Mets.

New York, however, is just one game under .500 (58-59) while Houston remains 14 games below that mark (51-65).

But the Astros are aiming to build upon their recent success at home, as the team hopes to continue a successful climb up the NL Central ladder.

And I’m really enjoying the youth and enthusiasm on this current Astros team, regardless of the club’s overall record, with “veterans” like Geoff Blum, Hunter Pence, and Michael Bourn taking active roles both on the field and in the clubhouse.

In addition, I was recently interviewed by the Mets Gazette in regards to the Astros upcoming series with the Mets.

Below is a transcript of the questions asked and my responses:

Mets Gazette: What is the biggest story of your team this year?

Denton Ramsey: The biggest story for the Astros this season has to be, by far, the trades of longtime Houston players Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt. The true results of this trade will take time, and very well may end up working out in the Astros favor if the young talent they received in return pans out in the majors. But losing Berkman (Yankees) and Oswalt (Phillies) has been the biggest story this season for the Astros.

Mets Gazette: Who has been your best player so far?

Denton Ramsey: The best player on the Astros this year has probably been Jeff Keppinger, Houston’s second baseman. With 107 games and counting under his belt, the 30-year-old infielder is batting .286 this season with 28 doubles, five home runs, and 46 RBI.

Mets Gazette: What or who has been your biggest disappointment or worst player?

Denton Ramsey: Houston’s biggest disappointment this season is most likely Carlos Lee. The veteran power-hitting outfielder has had quite a down season, and is currently batting just. 247 with only 15 home runs (through 111 games).

Mets Gazette: What are your team’s strengths and weaknesses currently?

Denton Ramsey: The Astros current strengths are youth and speed, although one could also easily argue that “youth” could be a weakness. But so far for Houston, “youth” appears to be working.

And the team has always had speed: Including the lightening-quick Michal Bourn and the always hustling Hunter Pence (not to mention some of the up-and-coming rookies on the Astros current roster).

Houston’s biggest weaknesses, meanwhile, revolve around two things: clutch hitting and starting pitching. The Astros need a solid rotation, and this season has been anything but that—especially after the trade of Oswalt—as this year has turned into a testing period of what’s to come in terms of Houston’s rotation.

Clutch hitting, meanwhile, has been a problem for most of the season for the Astros; and that will only get better with practice, patience, and persistence. But the team appears to be heading in the right direction, regardless of the club’s overall record of 51-65.

Mets Gazette: Your thoughts on the Mets and expectations for this series?

Denton Ramsey: The New York Mets enter the start of today’s four-game series with the Houston Astros (51-65) just one game under .500 at 58-59. But the Mets have also lost two games in a row, while the Astros enter this evening’s contest having won three straight in a recent home sweep over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Tonight’s tentative matchup has a pair of southpaws facing one another when New York’s Jonathon Niese battles Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez.

As far as expectations for this upcoming series at Minute Maid Park, I believe the Astros will be happy with a spit of the series, although there is no doubt they are looking to build upon a three-game sweep and would love nothing more than to add another sweep to their bags.

In the same breath, the Mets could use this time in Houston to bounce back—and over the .500 mark—as New York is currently 10 games out of first place in the National League East.

*****

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

As we near the All Star Break, divisions begin to take shape and the contenders and pretenders begin to separate. At this time, general managers begin to look over their teams in search of what they may need for the stretch run.

In this three part series, I will examine the best available talent at this year’s trading deadline. I will outline salaries and future status as well, giving you an idea of their worth going forward.

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