Thursday, May 1, 2014
Curtis Granderson, Pablo Sandoval among April's least valuable players
What do Billy Butler, Pablo Sandoval and Ubaldo Jimenez have in common? Awful months of April.
Mike Trout, Justin Upton, Johnny Cueto lead April's group of All-Stars
It's been a great start to the year for Chase Utley, Adrian Gonzalez and these nine other April All-Stars.
Home Run Leaders In 2014, HR Streaks (3 Active) + Multi HR Games: Tulo Keeps On Fire – Stanton Ties For NL Lead!
Giancarlo Stanton tied the NL For the lead with 8 HRs yesterday, when he went deep in the Marlins 9 – 0 romp of the Atlanta Braves. Stanton also leads the NL in RBI with 32. He is one of each a HR and an RBI behind Jose Abreu for the MLB lead. Is this the year Stanton finally reaches projections? The MLB Reports picked him to lead the MLB in HRs all the way back in FEB of this year.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Troy Tulowitzki is on fire. He homered for the 2nd consecutive game, and is now just 1 Roundtrip behind Giancarlo Stanton and Adrian Gonzalez for the NL Lead.
TULO is also tied with teammate Justin Morneau, for third in RBI this season at 22.
His efforts help the Rockies win last night in Arizona, and the club is now 16 – 12 on the young season, just 0.5 Games behind the Giants.
Mark Teixeira hit a HR for the second straight contest, and has now clubbed 3 HRs in the week he has been back from injury.
While the rest of the teams pitching is struggling or be hurt outside of Masahiro Tanaka, having the 1B hitting like this bodes well for the lineup.
Carlos Santana must be giving fantasy players a collective sigh of relief after putting forth another HR and 3 RBI effort for the 2nd time in as many games in Los Angeles, too bad they were both losses to the Angels.
Troy Tulowitzki is one of the best all-round shortstops in baseball. he plays Gold Glove caliber defense, and he actually hits well pretty much anywhere whether home (.935 OPS) and Away (.819 OPS). The team always plays better with their franchise Shortstop is in the lineup – and they have a punchers chance to compete in their Division. Tulo is owed $134 MIL over the next 7 years, and could easily command that type of salary on the open market
For Games Played Through Apr.29, 2014
Top 5 HR Leaders AL
Jose Abreu, White Sox – 10
Albert Pujols, Angels – 9
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays – 8
Brian Dozier, Twins – 7
Josh Donaldson, Athletics – 7
Nelson Cruz, Orioles – 7
Top 5 HR Leaders NL
Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers – 8
Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins – 8
Mark Trumbo, D’Backs – 7
Brandon Belt, Giants – 7
Justin Upton – Braves – 7
Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies – 7
Multi HR Games in MLB 2014
Ryan Braun – Brewers (3 HR Game) – April.8th
Ryan Braun – Brewers (2 HR Game) – April.19th
2nd Multi HR game of the year.
Jhonny Peralta, Cards (2) – Apr.27th
Kyle Seager, Mariners (2) – Apr.27th
2nd Multi HR game of the year
Starlin Castro, Cubs (2) – Apr.27th
Jose Abreu, White Sox – (2) Apr.25th
3rd Multi HR game of the year for Abreu
Josh Donaldson, Athletics (2) – Apr.24th
Nelson Cruz, Orioles, (2) – Apr.23rd
Mike Morse, Giants (2) – Apr.23rd
Kyle Seager, Mariners (2) – Apr.23rd
Hector Santiago, Giants (2) – Apr.23rd
Albert Pujols, Angels (2) including 500th HR Apr.22
Charlie Blackmon – Rockies – Apr.21
Wil Myers, Rays (2) April.19th
Ryan Hanigan, Rays (2) April 19th
6th teammates to do the feat this year
Howie Kendrick, Angels (2) – Apr.19
Neil Walker, Pirates (2) – Apr.14th
Gaby Sanchez, Pirates (2) – Apr.14th
5th teammates to do 2 HRs in a same game
Evan Gattis, Braves (2) – Apr.14th
Dan Uggla, Braves (2) – Apr.14th
- 4th teammates to both do it this year in the same game.
Ben Zobrist, Rays (2) – April 13th
Brian McCann, Yankees (2) – Apr 12th
Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins (2) – April 12th
Jose Abreu, White Sox (2) – April 10th (2nd time this year.)
Justin Upton – Braves (2) – April.10
Russell Martin – Pirates (2) – April.9th
Pedro Alvarez, Pirates (2) Multi HR Game Apr.9th
3rd teammates to do this in the same game
Corey Hart – Mariners (2) – April 8th
Avisail Garcia, White Sox (2) – April 8th
Jose Abreu, White Sox (2) – April 8th
2nd teammates to do this in the same game.
Jason Castro, Astros (2) – April.8th
Matt Kemp, Dodgers – (2) Multi HR Game Apr.06
Hanley Ramirez, Dodgers – (2) Multi HR Game Apr.06
1st teammates to do this in the same game this year.
Nolan Arenado, Rockies (2) Multi HR Game Apr.5
Pedro Alvarez, Pirates (2) Multi HR Game Apr.4
Lucas Duda, NY Mets (2) Multi HR Game Apr.4
Todd Frazier, Reds, (2) Multi HR Game Apr 3rd.
Jose Bautista – Blue Jays (2) Multi HR Game Apr 2nd
Brad Miller, Mariners – (2) Multi HR Game Apr 1st
Freddie Freeman – Braves (2) Multi HR Game Apr 1st
Alejandro De Aza – White Sox (2) – Multi HR Game Mar.31st.
HRs Streaks (Games Consecutive in MLB)
***Denotes Active Streak.
4 Games
Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers Apr.09 – Apr.13
Mark Trumbo, D’Backs – 4 Games – Apr.03 – Apr.08
Melky Cabrera, Blue Jays – 4 Games – Apr.04 – Apr.08
3 Games
Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers Apr.24 – Apr.26
Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies – Apr.22 – Apr.25
Andrew McCutchen, Pirates – Apr.21 – Apr.23
Charlie Blackmon, Rockies – Apr.20 – Apr.23
Torii Hunter, Tigers - Apr.04 – Apr.06
Carlos Beltran, Yankees, April.12 – Apr.16
2 Games
***Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies Apr.28 – Apr.29
***Mark Teixeira, Yankees Apr.27 – Apr.29
***Carlos Santana, Indians Apr.28 – Apr.29
Brandon Hicks, Giants Apr.27 – Apr.28
Kyle Seager, Mariners Apr.26 – Apr.27th
Juan Francisco, Blue Jays, Apr.25 – Apr.26
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Apr.25 – Apr.26
Justin Upton – Braves, Apr.25 – Apr.26
Josh Donaldson, Athletics - Apr.24 – Apr.25
Mike Morse, Giants – Apr.23 – Apr.25
Adam Dunn, White Sox – Apr.22 – Apr.24
Jose Abreu, White Sox – Apr.22 – Apr.23
Nelson Cruz, Orioles, – Apr.22 – Apr.23
Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays – Apr.22 – Apr.23
Mike Moustakas, Royals – Apr.22 – Apr.23
Chris Colabello, Twins – Apr.22 – Apr.23
Chris Carter, Astros – Apr.22 – Apr.23
Mike Napoli, Red Sox – Apr.21 – Apr.22
Nolan Arenado, Rockies – Apr.21 – Apr.22
Matt Dominguez, Astros – Apr.21 – Apr.22
Ryan Howard, Phillies – Apr.20 – Apr.21
Michael Brantley, Indians – Apr.20 – Apr.21
Mark Reynolds, Brewers – Apr.19 – Apr.20
Ryan Braun – Brewers – April.19th – Apr.20
Albert Pujols, Angels – Apr.18th – Apr.19th
3rd consecutive streak for Pujols (2 games each time for all 6 HRs)
Sean Rodriguez, Rays – Apr.17 – Apr.18
Zach Walters, Nationals – Apr.15 – Apr.16
Evan Gattis, Braves – Apr.14 – Apr.16
Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays – Apr.13 – Apr.15
Neil Walker, Pirates – Apr.14 – Apr.15
Todd Frazier, Reds – Apr.14 – Apr.15
Jhonny Peralta, Cardinals – Apr.14 – Apr.15
Juan Uribe, Dodgers – Apr.13 – Apr.15
Ryan Howard, Phillies, Apr.13 – Apr.14
Andrelton Simmons, Braves, Apr.13 – Apr.14
Garrett Jones, Marlins, Apr.13 – Apr.14
Joey Votto, Reds, Apr.13 – Apr.14
Devin Mesoraco, Reds, Apr.13 – Apr.14
Wilin Rosario, Rockies, Apr.13 – Apr.14
Albert Pujols, Angles, Apr.13 – Apr.14
-2nd consecutive streak for Pujols.
Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics, Apr.13 – Apr.14
Colby Rasmus, Blue Jays, Apr.12 – Apr.13
Josh Donaldson, Athletics, April.12 – Apr.13
Raul Ibanez, Angels, April.12 – Apr.13
Freddie Freeman, Braves, Apr.12 – Apr.13
Alfonso Soriano, Yankees, Apr.11 – Apr.12
Justin Upton, Braves, Apr.10 – Apr.11
Albert Pujols, Angels – Apr.08, Apr.09
Brian Dozier, Twins – Apr.09, Apr.10
Travis Snider, Pirates – Apr.09, Apr.10
Pedro Alvarez, Pirates – Apr.09, Apr.10
Jayson Werth, Nationals – Apr.09, Apr.10
Kelly Johnson, Yankees – 2 Games Apr.08, Apr.09
Derek Norris, Athletics – 2 Games – Apr.08 – Apr.09
Josh Hamilton, Angels – 2 Games – Apr.04 – Apr.05
Chase Utley, Phillies – 2 Games – Apr.04 – Apr.05
Jay Bruce, Reds – 2 Games – Apr.03 – Apr.04
Nelson Cruz, Orioles – 2 Games Apr.1 – Apr.03
Seth Smith, Padres – 2 Games Mar.30 – Apr.1
Brandon Belt, Giants – 2 Games – Mar.31 – Apr.1
Jose Bautista went deep for the 8th time last night and Melky Cabrera is playing at the same type of caliber he played at in 2012 before he was suspended for the rest of the season fro PED use. If Cabrera can keep this up, and the Jays get Jose Reyes going – and Brett Lawrie for that matter, all of a sudden the lineup becomes deep. On another positive note, Edwin Encarnacion also hit his 2nd HR of the year, and is showing signs of life – more to what he has been doing the last 2 years where he has hit 78 HRs.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***
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Tagged: adrian gonzalez, albert pujols, alexei ramirez, American League top 5 HR hitters, avisail garcia, Beat The Streak 2014 MLB, ben zobrist, brad miller, brandon belt, Brandon Hicks, brett lawrie, Brian Dozier, carlos beltran, carlos gomez, charlie blackmon, chase utley, chris carter, Chris Colabello, corey hart, dan uggla, derek norris, devin mesoraco, evan gattis, freddie freeman, gaby sanchez, giancarlo stanton, hanley ramirez, hector santiago, Home Run Streaks 2014 MLB, howie kendrick, jarrod saltalamacchia, jason castro, jay bruce, jayson werth, jhonny peralta, joey votto, jose abreu, jose bautista, josh hamilton, Juan Francisco, justin upton, kelly johnson, kyle seager, lucas duda, mark reynolds, mark trumbo, matt dominguez, matt kemp, melky cabrera, michael brantley, mike napoli, Mike Trout, Multi HR Games 2014, National League top 5 HR hitters, neil walker, nelson cruz, paul goldschmidt, pedro alvarez, russell martin, ryan braun, ryan howard, sean rodriguez, seth smith, Team Italy 2013 WBC, todd frazier, top 5 home run hitters, top 5 home run hitters in the MLB 2014, travis snider, Troy Tulowizki, wbc tournament 2013, zach walters
MLB Team Runs Survivor Through Games Played Apr.29: KC Joins The 11/11 Club (6th Team To Complete)
Salvador Perez hit a 2 run HR to make it a 5 -4 game, then hit a 2 run Double to break it open for KC in the 8th inning, as part of a 6 run frame against the Blue Jays Bullpen. The Royals pulled their record over .500 at 13 – 12 on a 10 – 7 win over the Canadian franchise. The win also marked the 1st time the squad had scored 10 or more runs for the year.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
This should turn out to be quite fun. A lot of gambling establishments have this sort of deal, and it will be fun to see the results.
What Runs Survivor is, a MLB team scoring 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, 10 or (10+) in different games throughout the course of the season.
Once a club has one of these run totals once, you cross it off and keep going until they complete the 11 different variations. We are going to keep tracking this category – until all 30 MLB clubs are finished this season!
The Kansas City Royals played their 25th game last night, and became the 6th fastest club to complete their 11 run totals. The club is far from their offense peak, but last night was promising, dropping a 6 spot in the BOT of 8 to seal a victory against the Blue Jays.
The Astros offense has not been clicking on all cylinders like it had for spell during last season’s campaign. Homers are down, while the strikeouts are higher than ever. Houston has failed to score 6 runs more in a game, and as such, only have peeled off 8 off 11 run scenarios for this contest, Houston lost an Interleague game to the Washington Nationals last night in the 9th inning when Josh Field’s gave up the lead in the Top of the 9th – for the club to lose 4 – 3 and fall to 9 – 18 on the year.
Runs Survivor Through Games Played Apr.29
AL
AL East
New York - 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (10/11)
Toronto – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) Completed 11/11 – Sat Apr.26, 2014 – Tied 4th place
Boston – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
Baltimore – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
Tampa Bay – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) Completed 11/11 – Fri Apr.25, 2014: 3rd place (1st in AL)
AL Central
Detroit – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (10/11)
Kansas City – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) – Completed 11/11 Apr.29 – 6th place
Minnesota – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) – Completed 11/11 Saturday Apr.26, 2014 – Tied for 4th place
Chicago White Sox – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (10/11)
Cleveland Indians – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (10/11)
AL West
Oakland – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
Texas – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
LA Angels – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
Seattle – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (10/11)
Houston - 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (8/11)
NL
NL East
Atlanta - 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (10/11)
Washington – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) Completed 11/11 on Apr.17th, (1st place in the MLB)
NY Mets – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
Miami Marlins – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (10/11)
Philadelphia Phillies - 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
NL Central
St. Louis Cardinals – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
Cincinnati Reds – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (10/11)
Milwaukee Brewers – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (10/11)
Chicago Cubs – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
Pittsburgh Pirates – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (10/11)
NL West
LA Dodgers – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
SF Giants – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) Completed 11/11 – Wed Apr.23, 2014 – Finished 2nd place
Arizona Diamondbacks - 0. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
San Diego Padres – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (7/11)
Colorado Rockies – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (10+) (9/11)
The Padres have yet to score even 7 runs in any game this year so far, and are trailing every other squad in this contest – with just 7 different totals. I may still pick them ahead of a team like the Astros. It is actually quite crazy the San Diego team is 13 – 15 so far, and it reflects how good their Bullpen and rotation have fared thus far. I still don’t like the composition of the offense, and their are several injury prone throwers in the Pitching Staff as well.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***
For all of the Rosters, Depth Charts, State of the Unions and Salaries Posts that we do, please visit our dedicated page link here.
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Tagged: al central, AL East, AL West, All 30 MLB Teams, American league, arizona diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, baltimore orioles, boston red sox, chicago cubs, chicago white sox, cincinnati reds, cleveland indians, colorado rockies, detroit tigers, houston astros, kansas city royals, la angels, la dodgers, miami marlins, milwaukee brewers, minnesota twins, national league, new york mets, new york yankees, NL Central, NL east, nl west, oakland athletics, philadelphia phillies, pittsburgh pirates, salvador perez, san diego padres, san francisco giants, seattle mariners, st louis cardinals, tampa bay rays, texas rangers, toronto blue jays, washington nationals
Trading places: Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman on divergent paths
Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman were both drafted by Atlanta in 2007, 64 spots apart.
Seth Wenig/AP
On a clear, cool morning in February of 2011, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward, both 21 years old, walked out to a back field at the Braves' spring training complex in Disney World to participate in a Sports Illustrated cover shoot. No one back then, including Freeman and Heyward themselves, would have predicted that three years later, Freeman would be the Braves' most important player -- "the leader on that club, by far," according to a rival scout. They also would not have imagined that Heyward would be relegated to a supporting role, the full realization of his significant potential obstructed by a flaw that might not be fatal but is nevertheless consistently exploited by savvy opponents.
Freeman and Heyward had become fast friends shortly after the Braves drafted them 64 slots apart in 2007 -- Heyward went 14th, Freeman 78th -- and they were so inseparable as they rose up the club's farm system that teammates called them "Salt and Pepper," for just the reason that you would think. Even so, Freeman was supposed to be the sidekick. Heyward was Mike Trout before Mike Trout, an astoundingly athletic five-tool phenom with the talent to transcend his sport. The New Yorker had even profiled him the previous April, after Baseball America had named him the game's best prospect, ahead of Stephen Strasburg.
Freeman, meanwhile, looked like he would become merely a nice player. BA ranked him 33rd on its 2010 prospects list, and as Heyward spent that season as a productive rookie for the Braves, he told Freeman -- who lived in Heyward's house in Cobb County, as he played for nearby Triple-A Gwinnett -- what he could expect when he too reached the majors. "He was like, 'Any person you talk to in a hotel, you gotta tip 'em,'" Freeman explained that morning in Orlando. When it was time for the cover shot, the photographer positioned Heyward front and center, coolly sitting on a cart of balls, while Freeman stood behind him with his left arm resting on Heyward's shoulder and a mildly goofy, happy-to-be-there grin on his face.
Two days this past February encapsulate how much things have changed since then. On Feb. 4, the Braves signed Heyward to a two-year extension for $13.3 million, a contract that covered his remaining arbitration eligibility but bought out none of his years of future free agency. On Feb. 5, they gave Freeman his own extension: Eight years and $135 million, a deal designed to ensure that he will remain their centerpiece through 2021.
Since he became the Braves' full-time first baseman on opening day of 2011, Freeman has essentially maxed out his talent and developmental curve. He started strong -- he finished second in the '11 NL Rookie of the Year voting after batting .282 with 21 homers and 76 RBI -- and he has improved every year, to the point at which he has become an annual MVP candidate (he came in fifth last year). Through his first 25 games in 2014, he was batting .344 with with six homers and 17 RBI and an OPS of 1.033, third-best in the league. By the age of 24, he has gone from a player once projected to be perhaps an above-average starter into one who toes the line between star and superstar, one whose only readily identifiable shortcoming is a lack of footspeed.
Heyward, meanwhile, always seemed destined for superstardom, but few would argue he has gotten there. Despite the fact that he reached the majors a year before his friend Freeman, he has hit just one more home run (75 to 74), he has 57 fewer RBI, and he trails significantly in batting average (.289 to .256) and OPS (.837 to .785). He has been held back in part by injuries; he's already made four trips to the disabled list (Freeman has made one), and last year he missed nearly a month due to appendicitis, and then nearly another after he was hit in the face by a pitch from the Mets' Jon Niese and sustained a fractured jaw. The real source of his delayed ascent, however, is something that is more within his control.
Whereas Freeman has always had one of those fluid lefthanded swings that make scouting reports read like Keatsian odes, no one ever waxed poetic about the form -- as opposed to the power -- of Heyward's stroke. He sometimes looks like a golfer attempting to hit a three-wood off of a four-foot tee. "You watch him, he really stiff-arms the bat out there," said one opposing scout, referring to his propensity for almost fully extending his arms before muscling the head of the bat through the hitting zone.
When Heyward was a prospect, the consensus was that his swing, though slightly unorthodox, worked for him, so extreme was his talent. As it has turned out, the scout says, it is the one thing that has separated him from greatness, giving pitchers a clearly identifiable hole to attack. "He's easy to pitch to if you're willing to pitch inside," the scout said. "The ball he hits well is the ball out away from him. Anybody that pounds him in can get him. That's why Niese hit him: He went up and in, and Heyward's a diver. If pitchers pitch around him, on the outer half, he'll crush it. But power guys can get him out all day inside."
Indeed, charts of Heyward's so-called "Hot Zones" -- versions of which teams pass out to their pitchers before every series -- tend to corroborate starkly the scout's observations, and this season he has yet to demonstrate improvement. According to data kept by STATS Inc., through April 25, Heyward had seen 55 pitches that qualified as "up and in," delivered either to the upper left ninth of the strike zone or slightly north or west of it. He had swung at 22 of them, and those 22 swings had produced zero hits. If you want to know why a player who was a popular pick to have his MVP-caliber breakout is approaching the end of the season's first month with a batting average of .194 and five extra-base hits, this is a fine place to start.
Even so, just as it is wrong to view Freeman's development into an elite player as an underdog's triumph -- he is no Seabiscuit -- it is wildly inaccurate to deem Heyward as anything approaching a bust. He is a superb defensive outfielder -- the majors' best defender at any position so far this year, according to FanGraphs' UZR metric -- as well as an excellent baserunner and a powerful hitter when he gets pitches in his comfort zone. In fact, since he entered the league in 2010, FanGraphs pegs his cumulative WAR at 17.3, 21st overall among non-pitchers. He is still only 24, with years ahead of him in which he might tweak his swing in order to close the hole that has prevented him from ranking near the very top of that list, as his pure talent has always suggested that he can.
For now, though, Heyward is a reminder of how difficult it can be for even the most gifted players to turn potential into full-blown reality, and of how assiduously opponents will work to prevent that from happening.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 30, 2014
Robert Sabo – New York Daily News
How are the Mets this good so far?
And how will the next month propel the Mets and the Brewers into elite status?
That and more on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Jose Fernandez, Lyle Overbay, John Lackey, Mike Zunino, Carlos Santana and Yadier Molina all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball.
To see the up to date “WOB” standings on MLB Reports, Click HERE.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 30, 2014
Tagged: 2014 Milwaukee Brewers, 2014 New York Mets, curtis granderson, dillon gee, jose fernandez, lyle overbay, milwaukee brewers, new york mets, Paul Francis Sullivan, Sully Baseball, Sully baseball daily podcast
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