Bay Area Baseball

As we approach the All Star Game in New York City, there are several intriguing races that involve deserving players. Perhaps the most interesting among these races are the NL and AL starting second baseman. The American League has both Ian Kinsler and Dustin Pedroia, at last count this is where we stood:

1.    Pedroia, D.    Red Sox    1,286,962
2.    Kinsler, I.    Rangers    1,120,439

Pedroia, who has raised his average from .260 to .307 in just two weeks, is an amazing 32 for his last 59 including a home run on Sunday. Kinsler has been hot all year, hitting .318 with 13 hr’s, 50 rbi, and 20 sb’s. He too has been hot in the midst of an 11 game hitting streak. Both are all star caliber players but Kinsler has truly been the standout. Unfortunately for him Pedroia is on the Red Sox and will likely receive the necessary support to start the game. Kinser will be there though, and by being there will get his name out there for the future.

The National League race is even more brutal between Philadelphia’s Chase Utley and Florida’s Dan Uggla. As the race stands:

1.    Utley, C.    Philles    2,179,006
2.    DeRosa, M.    Cubs    940,404
3.    Matsui, K.    Astros    742,425
4.    Uggla, D.    Marlins    675,358

Both Utley and Uggla lead the NL with 23 hr’s, Utley is hitting .298 and Uggla .289. Utley has 65 rbi and Uggla has 58. The two are the obvious statistical candidates and are both team leaders offensively. By comparison DeRosa is hitting .289 with only 8 hr’s and less steals, rbi and runs than Uggla. Matsui is even worse, with a .271 avg and only 1 hr and 18 rbi. While in fairness Uggla should be battling Utley, we will no doubt see both in New York barring a brainfart from NL manager Clint Hurdle.

The All Star Game has always been for the fans, and it looks like we will get to see the fan’s impart their will on the starting rosters. We can only hope for these same fans that their league is best represented and has the best chance possible to win home field advantage for its league champion.

It’s not everyday that you get to see a no hitter, and that’s just what the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were able to do vs their crosstown rival Los Angeles Dodgers, no hitting them behind Jered Weaver. Even more rare than a traditional no hitter, this game saw Weaver get removed from the game for a pinch hitter in the 7th inning with his no hitter still intact but trailing 1-0 due to an error, wild throw into CF, and a sacrifice fly.

Angels reliever Jose Arrendando completed the no hitter with a hitless 7th and 8th, but the Angels lineup was unable to score against Dodgers SP Chad Billingsley, who went 7 shutout with 7 k’s, SU Jon Broxton or CP Takashi Saito, who helped to complete the shutout and also hit 95 mph on the radar gun. Lost in the buzz of the no hitter was the performance of Billingsley, whos electric stuff has seen him move up to third in the NL in strikeouts with 102. He has won three straight starts and allowed only 4 runs over his last 18.1 ip.

While much was made in the media over this not being an “official” no hitter because the Dodgers only had to bat 8 times, this is nonetheless noteworthy. Only five of these have ever occurred in which a team has been no hit and won the game. Jered Weaver was as tough luck a loser as you can get, throwing 6 ip with 0 er and 0 hits. He was first disappointed to be taken out with his no hitter intact then even more depressed to find that he was tagged with the loss.

Another great duel took place right here in the Bay Area between Giants Ace Tim Lincecum and Oakland Ace Justin Duchscherer.  Lincecum was outstanding, consistantly pitching out of jams and stranding three runners at third base with clutch strikeouts and a double play. Lincecum went 7 shutout innings with an outstanding 11 strikeouts. Duchscherer was nearly as good, allowing only three baserunners and going 8 innings allowing just one run on an infield hit. Classic duels like this are as entertaining as they get, as any one pitch can decide the game.

Lincecum raised his NL leading strikeout total to 114 and Duchscherer lowered his MLB leading era to 1.91. We will likely see both at the All Star Game in New York, perhaps as the starters for their respective teams.

Sunday

Disappointing Erik Bedard for the Mariners takes on Jake Peavy of the Padres who have also had a rough season. Two aces like this could make for a tight one.

Other aces going today include the Brewers’ Ben Sheets, the Red Sox’s Josh Beckett, the Angels’ John Lackey, the Giants Jonathan Sanchez, the Diamondback’s Dan Haren, and the Blue Jays’ AJ Burnett.

Best in the West

The Bay Area Giants were eliminated yesterday in the Best in the West Tournament. They won the first game of their doubleheader against the Paso Robles Reds 17-2 behind a season high 15 hits and a CG 2 hitter from SP Wes Yee. The Giants took a no hitter into the 6th inning behind several big defensive plays including a double play started by 3B Darren Lisle. In a 2-0 game in the 6th the Giants exploded for five runs then added on ten runs in the 7th. OF Bud Lilly and 1B/OF Matt Armstrong had three hits apiece to lead the offensive explosion.

The Giants were unable to carry the momentum into the nightcap against the Humboldt Crabs and their band, losing 10-1 in a speedy contest that saw the return of Giants pitcher Graig Whelan from the disabled list. Whelan battled through 5 innings but the Giants were unable to get anything going against the Crabs pitching. Sam Stewart and Chris Greco combined for 2.2 innings of shutout relief.

With two games today at 10am and 5pm at Santa Clara University for the Bay Area Giants we will have an abbreviated article today, so without further adieu:

Who’s hot:

Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays 3B - has 4 HR’s in his last 5 games and is 12/24 over the span.

Ricky Nolasco - Florida Marlins SP - went 8 ip with 1 er and 9 k’s Friday and has allowed only 6 earned runs over his last 29.2 ip to go with 27 k’s and only 4 bb’s.

David Wright - NY Mets 3B - went 6/9 Friday to add on to the two HR’s he hit in his last game on Wednesday

Aramis Ramirez - Chicago Cubs 3B - is 10 for his last 27 with 4 hr’s

Curtis Granderson - Detroit Tigers CF - is 17 for his last 29 after going 4/5 with two triples on Friday

Alex Rios - Toronto Blue Jays OF - is 13 for his last 27

Dustin Pedroia - Boston Red Sox 2B - is hitting .500, 15/30 over his last week

C.C. Sabathia - Cleveland Indians SP - has 21 k’s in his last two starts.

Charlie Baker - Bay Area Giants 1B/LHP - is 5 for his last 9 with 2 rbi and pitched a scoreless inning Friday vs Fontanetti’s in the Best in the West Tournament

Zach Matthay - Bay Area Giants LF - has 5 hits in his last 6 games and also had 2 rbi vs the Maxim Yankees on Wednesday in the Best in the West Tournament