It was a roller coaster season for the Indians.At the start, expectations were zero for Cleveland, which, coming off a 93-loss year, many prognosticators felt would battle Kansas City to stay out of the AL Central basement.The Indians lost the first two games of the season with their pitchers giving up 23 runs, seemingly validating those predictions. But then the Indians went on a six-week tear. They won 14 home games in a row, and on May 23, they reached their high point of the season. Their record was 30-15, and they were in first place in the AL Central by seven games.Following that, however, it was Permier Louis Murphy Jersey a methodical march back to reality -- although not as grim a reality as everyone predicted prior to the season. After the 30-15 start, the Indians went 50-67 the rest of the way. However, they did manage to finish in second place, and overall the season was major step forward for a team that only won 69 games a year ago.The clear strength of the team was their pitching staff, particularly the bullpen, which was statistically one of the best units in the American League all year. The core of the bullpen -- closer Chris Perez and setup men Joe Smith, Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp and Vinnie Pestano -- will all be back next season. The rotation did not receive the midseason boost hoped for by the trade for Ubaldo Jimenez, but the emergence of Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin, coupled with Jimenez, who still has two years remaining on his club-friendly contract, gives the Indians a strong front three for next year.Fausto Carmona, the Opening Day starter, had an awful season, going 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA, but it's expected the Indians will pick up the 7 million club option on his contract for Raiders Louis Murphy Jersey next year. He'd likely be the fourth starter. The final spot in the rotation will be decided in spring training, with the three top in-house candidates being Jeanmar Gomez, David Huff and Zach McAllister.One starter who won't be available is Carlos Carrasco, who will miss all of next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.Offensively, the Indians had a disastrous season. They were in the bottom half of the American League in most offensive categories while setting a franchise record for strikeouts in a season. One reason for the lack of offense was a staggering run of injuries, many of them to key players. The two biggest losses were center fielder Grady Sizemore, who was on the disabled list three different times, and right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, who was on the DL twice.The team's No. 1 priority for the offseason will be to add a hitter, preferably an outfielder or a first baseman. Another starting pitcher could be added to provide Authentic Richard Seymour Jersey depth.But the biggest offseason issue will be deciding whether to pick up club options on the contracts of Carmona and Sizemore. The option on Sizemore is for 9 million, and given that he's had Official Louis Murphy Jersey three consecutive injury-plagued years, including microfracture surgery on one knee, it's questionable whether the team will be willing to pay that much to a player who, because of injuries, may never be the same player he was in his prime.The Diamondbacks unraveled quickly in the sixth inning Sunday, failing into an 0-2 hole in their National League Division Series with a 9-4 loss to Milwaukee at Miller Park. Blink and you might have missed the Brewers' decisive rally.Milwaukee scored five runs in the span of 13 pitches, and four of those came on an intentional walk. Brad Ziegler did not retire any of the six batters he faced while committing a balk and a throwing error, walking two and giving up three singles.It was crazy. It was really crazy. I didn't even get a chance to second-guess myself, D-backs catcher Miguel Montero said. It was like 'OK, here we go, boom-boom, boom-boom-boom.' What's going on over here? I felt like I was in the middle and everybody was shooting.Ziegler replaced starter Daniel Hudson in a tie game after Jerry Hairston Jr. doubled with one out. Ziegler was called for a balk after throwing a 1-0 pitch to Yuniesky Betancourt, then threw three more balls to walk Betancourt. Jonathan Lucroy put down a safety squeeze, a play the D-backs had seen before from the Brewers, and Ziegler fielded the ball cleanly but through over Montero's head, allowing the go-ahead run to score.I should have just taken the out at first, but knowing that was the lead run over Authentic Louis Murphy Jersey Black there, I wanted to try to cut it down. It wasn't the smart play. The smart play would have been to throw the ball to first, Ziegler said.After another intentional walk to load the bases, Corey singled to center Replica Louis Murphy Jersey to drive in Louis Murphy Jersey Black a run on the first pitch he saw, Nyjer Morgan singled to center to drive in two runs cheap nfl jerseys free shipping on the first pitch he saw, and Ryan Braun singled to center to drive in the final run of the five-run inning on a 1-0 pitch.To be honest, I wasn't thinking they were going to be that aggressive. They were on it, said Montero, who said he thought Ziegler was throwing well. The Richard Seymour Authentic Jersey only thing I saw wrong was those guys swinging at the first pitch. They made good adjustments. They stayed inside the ball pretty good. They never tried to pull anything. They tried to hit the ball back up the middle, and that's what they did.
The Rangers offense stopped swinging Replica Louis Murphy Jersey for the fences Saturday and started getting results.On the way to an 8-6 win over Tampa Bay, the Rangers scored their first seven runs without the benefit of a homer. That's a significant accomplishment for a team that had never won a postseason game in which it failed to homer. The streak remains intact, however, because Mitch Moreland homered in the eighth for the Rangers' final run.The Rangers scored five runs in the fourth to come back from a 3-0 deficit. They did not have an extra base hit in the inning. They started the rally with a hit batter and scored their first run on another hit batter. They scored on a strikeout on a wild pitch and they added three singles from the Nos. 3-4 and 6 hitters to inflict the bulk of the pain.After a couple of awkward swings with a man on first, Josh Hamilton bounced a ball through the overshift on the right side of the infield. Michael Young followed with a line-drive single to left to load the bases.Adrian Beltre drove Authentic Louis Murphy Jersey Black in the first run when he Louis Murphy Jersey Black was hit by a pitch. And then, C Mike Napoli, whose two homers in the final game of the season delivered home field advantage in this round of the playoffs, showed he could be just as dangerous with a single. His liner Official Louis Murphy Jersey to left drove home the go-ahead runs.The Rangers scored twice more in the sixth on a pair of singles, the team's first pinch hit sac bunt in more than four years, a hit batter and a two-run double to right by pull-happy Ian Kinsler.We're capable of scoring runs in anyway, Kinsler said. We've got lots of ways to create havoc. We feel we are very versatile and don't have to sit back and wait for a three-run homer. Our approach is really to single them to death.SS Jose Reyes spent the season insisting he wasn't thinking about his future, but the future is now thanks to a sensational season heading into free agency. Reyes batted .337 to capture the first batting title in franchise history and established himself as one of the top talents in the game, just entering the prime of his career. Reyes, 28, has said he would like to return, but he will explore the market.--LHP Johan Santana lost the entire season while rehabilitating from surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder. He got a handful of minor league appearances and finished up with work in the instructional league. The Mets believe he will be ready for spring training.--RHP Mike Pelfrey finds himself in a curious situation, starting the season as the anointed ace of the staff and the Opening Day starter and then after his final appearance being described as needing to start over by manager Terry Collins. Pelfrey's struggles in 2011 also provide a dilemma for the Mets, as he is arbitration-eligible, so the team must decide whether to risk a 5 million to 6 million contract for a pitcher who struggled badly. But team official indicate that they are likely to try to retain him just for his durability.--CF Angel Pagan is arbitration-eligible, but Authentic Richard Seymour Jersey may have played his way out of New York. After a breakout season in 2010, Pagan struggled with performance, pressure and injuries. The Mets have had internal discussions about signing a replacement or moving Jason Bay to center.--RF Lucas Duda finished the season on the bench for the final seven games after suffering a concussion when he collided with the wall in St. Louis on Sept. 21. He said he felt ready to play the final series but that the medical protocol recommended he sit out. Manager Terry Collins said he expects Duda to be the starting right fielder next season.BY THE NUMBERS .337 -- Batting average for SS Jose Reyes, earning him the cheap nfl jerseys free shipping National League batting title. He became the first player in franchise history to win a batting title.QUOTE TO NOTE If we had the names that we left spring training with, there's no doubt in my mind, especially after seeing the league, and seeing as well as we played without those guys, without a lot of them. It would have been a whole different scenario. -- Manager Freddy Garcia hadn't pitched in a postseason game since the 2005 World Series, but the 34-year-old veteran got a quick reminder Sunday how difficult it can be.Garcia gave up a two-run home run by Miguel Cabrera, setting the tone in the Tigers' 5-3 win Raiders Louis Murphy Jersey over Richard Seymour Authentic Jersey the Yankees. Magglio Ordonez, who like Cabrera and Garcia is from Venezuela, reached on a single with one out, setting up Cabrera's two-run shot.I think that was a good pitch down and away; he made good contact, Garcia said of the home run. It's got to be him. I think that was a good pitch in that situation, but it's part of the game.Garcia did his best to limit the damage after the home run, retiring 13 of the next 14 batters he faced. But Max Scherzer dominated the Yankees' lineup through six innings while Garcia allowed two more runs in the sixth, leaving the game with one out.I tried to keep the score 2-0 because I know we're going to hit. We've got the best lineup in baseball, so I was waiting for them, Garcia said. I shut it down waiting for us to start hitting. It never Permier Louis Murphy Jersey happened, but that's part of the game.Garcia is 6-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 10 career postseason starts, including a 2-2 mark and 5.32 ERA in five Division Series outings.
When the Astros Richard Seymour Jersey Black took the final blows of an 8-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 28, it was an appropriate conclusion to an ugly season. Simply put, it was by far the worst Authentic Rolando McClain Jersey season in Astros history, as Houston finished with 106 losses, shattering the old record of 97.What lies ahead will not be a quick fix.One of baseball's least powerful offenses combined with shaky-at-times starting pitching and one of the game's leakiest bullpens to form a highly flawed roster that cannot be patched. General manager Ed Wade has committed to a long-term rebuilding process, which the Astros are likely to continue into the offseason.I think the things that we're probably going to be doing during the offseason mirror what we've been trying to do the last couple of years, which is to bring as many good solid prospects in here to build a core nucleus for the future, Wade said.The process began when the Astros traded Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt at the 2010 deadline and continued with the trades of Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn this year. Wandy Rodriguez, who was shopped at the trade deadline and pulled back off waivers in August when the Authentic Richard Seymour Jersey Black Astros and Rockies couldn't work out a deal, is a prime candidate to be moved.By Richard Seymour Jersey White unloading Pence and Bourn at the deadline this year, the Astros cleared playing time for some of their young players called up directly from Class AA, and they may have found some gems for the future. J.D. Martinez, most notably, projects into the starting left field role next season after hitting .274 with six home runs in 53 games in 2011.Diminutive second baseman Jose Altuve showed that he could hit at the big-league level. He initially lived up to his minor league numbers but later showed that he was susceptible to slumps given his lack of power and patience. And Jimmy Paredes, the most athletic of the three, baffled the team with some miscues but also showed that he has the raw talent to be an All-Star if he puts his whole game together.There will be no shortage of candidates for the rotation, even if Rodriguez or Brett Myers were to be Official Richard Seymour Jersey traded. Bud Norris, Jordan Lyles, J.A. Happ and Henry Sosa all started this season, at times very effectively, and they will be competing for spots next year.A bullpen that was loaded with rookies should only get better and more experienced, especially if Brandon Lyon comes back healthy.In short, this offseason will be more of the same for the Astros, whose roster at time featured up to 16 rookies this year. Houston had 20 more losses this year than last year, and there is no sense the team can make all those up at once. Houston fans have to be prepared for a long haul back to contention. James Shields felt he let his team down.Given a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning with a chance to put the Rays up 2-0 in the best-of-five AL Division Series against the Rangers, Shields gave it back with Permier Richard Seymour Jersey an uncharacteristically wild performance.I didn't do my job today, that's the cheap nfl jerseys free shipping bottom line. I didn't do my job, he said. It's frustrating. I came off some really good games. It's definitely frustrating for me.The game unraveled in the fourth, as Shields hit two batters, threw two wild pitches, give up three hits and, most important, allowed five runs.The Rays' 8-6 loss evened the series at one game apiece.And it gave Shields a piece of history -- the only pitcher in a postseason game to have two wild pitches and two hit batters.Center fielder Nyjer Morgan, a flamboyant and effervescent player Replica Richard Seymour Jersey who goes by the alternate persona Tony Plush, was asked before Game 2 of the NLDS to explain that moniker.That's the entertainer, he said. That's the guy who likes to have fun. Basically, we're on a stage out there. And all entertainers have a name.For me, it's Tony Plush. When I clock in on that field, and basically right now, I'm Tony Plush. I make things happen. And good things happen for the team.Morgan had a troubled past in Pittsburgh and Washington but has been a perfect fit with the Raiders Richard Seymour Jersey Brewers. He had a big two-run single in the 9-4 victory over Arizona in Game 2 on Sunday, and manager Ron Roenicke said he has enjoyed Morgan, on and off the field.I've told you guys in the past, this is really a good, young man, said Roenicke. I know he's emotional. I know sometimes he does some things that he shouldn't do. He realizes when he does something wrong or something that he should do better.But his conversations are always trying to do the right things. He's energetic. He plays hard. He's played great for us. He's a big part of the chemistry of what's going on with this club.I enjoy him. I mean, it sounds kind of weird, but I enjoy even when I get a call from MLB vice president Joe Torre, saying, 'Hey, Ron, the incident in San Francisco. You need to talk to him.' I bring him in and the conversations are always good. I like him a lot, not just as a baseball player.Morgan said he, too, has enjoyed and benefited from his experience playing for Roenicke and getting his advice.It's such a cool relationship, he said. He understands the way I come to work. There are times he gives me that look, where it's like, 'Hey, 'Nyj,' let's tone it down a little bit.' He lets me be me and understands me.
The jubilation that engulfed Philadelphia a week before Christmas when Cliff Lee returned, signing a five-year, 120 million contract, wasn't just that he chose the Phillies over going back to Texas or signing a richer deal with the hated New York Yankees. It was also because Raiders Rolando McClain Jersey Phils fans remembered the Cliff Lee of October 2009.With a roster already brimming with enough talent to win a World Rolando McClain Jersey Black Series for the second time in four years, the Phillies had added a postseason hero who had beaten the Yankees twice in the 2009 Fall Classic. Lee went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in the '09 playoffs with the Phillies; the team won all five of his starts.But Lee's playoff homecoming at Citizens Bank Park in Game 2 of the National League Division Series did not match up with his previously gaudy postseason resume with the Phillies. Rolando McClain Jersey White Handed a 4-0 lead in the first two innings, Lee allowed a career high-tying 12 hits -- 10 coming after the third inning -- to lose his first playoff game as a Phillies pitcher in a 5-4 loss to St. Louis in Game 2 of the NLDS.Anytime Rolando McClain Authentic Jersey you give a starting pitcher a four-run lead in the first two innings, he's in a pretty good spot, Lee said. That's the situation I was in and somehow I squandered it.From the middle of the fourth inning until manager Charlie Manuel came to get him before Lee could record an out in the seventh, the Cardinals went 10-for-17 against him with three doubles. With two outs and no one on base in the sixth inning, Ryan Theriot hit one Replica Rolando McClain Jersey of those doubles.Theriot was the first of six batters in seven plate appearances to get a hit off Lee before he would hand the ball over the Manuel.They got the hits when they needed to -- big hits when they needed to, Lee said. I take full responsibility.After going 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA in his first Authentic Rolando McClain Jersey Black eight postseason starts, all wins and five coming with the Phillies, Lee is 0-3 with a 7.13 ERA in his last three playoff starts.
Despite winning six more games in 2011 than they did a year earlier, the Angels missed out on the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2000-01 -- Mike Scioscia's first two seasons as manager.In the end, the outstanding pitching provided at the front of the starting rotation by Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana was not enough to hide the shortcomings of an offense that produced just 667 runs, lower even than last year's total Rolando McClain Jersey Womens when they scored 200 runs fewer than the previous season and the lowest for the Angels in a full season since 1992. The Angels were held to three runs or cheap nfl jerseys free shipping less 75xxx times in 2011, two runs or less 50xxx times.Those kind of numbers do not bode well for the Angels' hopes of bridging the 10-game divide between them and the two-time division champion Rangers, third in the majors in runs scored.They're going to be good, manager Mike Scioscia said of chasing the Rangers. I don't know what their roster is going to be next year. But they have control of a lot of players and a lot of young talent that's come up.We are close but there is a separation there we have to bridge and that's going to have to be done two-fold -- first with some guys that are here having to perform a little better next year than they did this year and in some ways we're going to have to go outside the organization.The Angels can hope for continued growth from young players like Mark Trumbo and Peter Bourjos and look forward to the return of Kendrys Morales -- but can't make the mistake of counting on his comeback as they did this spring. Their best hitter in 2009 when he batted .306 with 34 home runs and 108 RBI, Morales has not played since fracturing his left ankle on May 29, 2010. He is currently recovering from a second surgery on that ankle.A bounce-back year is essential from this Official Rolando McClain Jersey year's biggest acquisition, OF Vernon Wells, because the Angels have boxed themselves in with big contracts. That leaves limited flexibility roster-wise to address the offensive shortcomings with a big move this offseason.I love the nucleus of this Permier Rolando McClain Jersey club, Scioscia said. I love the youth. I love the veterans on this club. I still think we're championship-caliber with some depth added in key areas.
Despite winning six more games in 2011 than they did a year earlier, the Angels missed out on the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2000-01 -- Mike Scioscia's first two seasons as manager.In the end, the outstanding pitching provided at the front of the starting rotation by Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana was not enough to hide the shortcomings of an offense that produced just 667 runs, lower even than last year's total Rolando McClain Jersey Womens when they scored 200 runs fewer than the previous season and the lowest for the Angels in a full season since 1992. The Angels were held to three runs or cheap nfl jerseys free shipping less 75xxx times in 2011, two runs or less 50xxx times.Those kind of numbers do not bode well for the Angels' hopes of bridging the 10-game divide between them and the two-time division champion Rangers, third in the majors in runs scored.They're going to be good, manager Mike Scioscia said of chasing the Rangers. I don't know what their roster is going to be next year. But they have control of a lot of players and a lot of young talent that's come up.We are close but there is a separation there we have to bridge and that's going to have to be done two-fold -- first with some guys that are here having to perform a little better next year than they did this year and in some ways we're going to have to go outside the organization.The Angels can hope for continued growth from young players like Mark Trumbo and Peter Bourjos and look forward to the return of Kendrys Morales -- but can't make the mistake of counting on his comeback as they did this spring. Their best hitter in 2009 when he batted .306 with 34 home runs and 108 RBI, Morales has not played since fracturing his left ankle on May 29, 2010. He is currently recovering from a second surgery on that ankle.A bounce-back year is essential from this Official Rolando McClain Jersey year's biggest acquisition, OF Vernon Wells, because the Angels have boxed themselves in with big contracts. That leaves limited flexibility roster-wise to address the offensive shortcomings with a big move this offseason.I love the nucleus of this Permier Rolando McClain Jersey club, Scioscia said. I love the youth. I love the veterans on this club. I still think we're championship-caliber with some depth added in key areas.
The Rockies' 19th season was by far their most disappointing. They left spring training convinced they could win their first NL West title and were picked by many to do so. And when the season began, things couldn't have gone better for the Rockies.They shot out to an 11-2 start, the best in the majors. From that point on, though, they went 62-87 to finish with a 73-89 record, their Brandon Jacobs Jersey Red worst since 2005.The Rockies typically have trouble on the road, and this season was no exception -- they were 35-46. But the Rockies usually succeed at home and often dominate. That didn't happen this year, and the Rockies' 38-43 record at Coors Field was just their fourth losing record in the 17 years of the ballpark's existence. It's one thing to go 0-38 on the road when trailing after eight innings, but the Rockies were 1-37 when trailing after eight innings at home, where they lost their swagger.The Rockies need more offense to support the efforts of Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. Ideally, they can find a right-handed hitter to play the outfield or the infield corners. And they need to add at least one veteran starter to solidify a rotation that will be young Authentic Brandon Jacobs Jersey and wholesale jerseys inexperienced next year.Entering this season, the Rockies believed that in Ubaldo Jimenez and Jorge De La Rosa they had two starters at the front of their rotation who could match up well with any club's top two starters. On the day he was hurt in late May, De La Rosa took the mound with a 5-2 record and 3.34 ERA in nine starts. The 10th lasted less than three innings on May 24, and De La Rosa left with a season-ending elbow injury required Tommy John surgery.De La Rosa's loss was felt even more because of Jimenez's struggles. He was 0-5 with a 5.86 ERA in his first nine starts, eight of them Rockies losses, and didn't win his first game until June 1.For a variety of reasons that had to do with the long-term effects of pitching at Coors Field, the need to replenish the upper level of the farm system and concern Permier Brandon Jacobs Jersey about Jimenez's determination, the Rockies traded him to the Indians on July 31 for four minor league players, including pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Alex White. They're expected to be part of the Rockies' rotation next season, perhaps not from the start. Pomeranz, 22, showed plenty of promise with the Rockies in September, but White struggled repeatedly.Jhoulys Chacin, 23, who pitched exceedingly well through June 15 but then was inconsistent until his final two starts of the season, set a goal of pitching 200 innings and came close with 194. And Jason Hammel, who once seemed destined to be traded and pitched Brandon Jacobs Authentic Jersey his way out of the rotation in late August, did so well in the final month, when he was pitching out of the bullpen but made two spot starts, that the Rockies again believe he can hold down a spot at the back of the rotation.But a rotation that includes Chacin, Pomeranz, Official Brandon Jacobs Jersey White and Hammel cries out for a dependable veteran, or two, to eat innings.Third baseman Ian Stewart had a horrible season, although he's likely to return, maybe in a platoon if the Rockies can't find a potent bat, because he'll be just 27 when the 2012 season starts, plays plus defense and has plus power, or at least did before this year.Center fielder Dexter Fowler, a switch hitter, did a much better job of driving the ball from both sides after the All-Star break, following a one-month demotion to Triple-A. He strikes out too much, but the Rockies are encouraged that Fowler, 24, has found an approach at the plate that enables him to drive the ball.Left-hander Rex Brothers began the season at Triple-A, but by the end of the season he had given the Rockies a power arm to pitch in a setup role. Rafael Betancourt was almost unhittable in the second half of the season and took over as the closer when Huston Street was hurt in August. Betancourt was so effective that Street never regained his role.Even if Street is dealt, the Giants Brandon Jacobs Jersey Rockies have bullpen strength in Betancourt, Brothers, Matt Belisle and some others.But the key for Jim Tracy or Replica Brandon Jacobs Jersey any manager is to use the bullpen when he wants to rather than when he has to. And for that to happen, the Rockies' starting pitchers, who went 53-68 with a 4.73 ERA, must be much better next season.Tracy was given authority to make changes in his coaching staff as he saw fit but chose to retain the entire staff. That suggests greater accountability and responsibility will be sought from the players. Hitting coach Carney Lansford, the only addition to Tracy's staff for 2011, was unable to rectify the Brandon Jacobs Jersey Blue Rockies' situational hitting, which was very poor and must improve significantly for the Rockies to contend next year.