This year’s new twist of announcing finalists for all the Baseball Writers’ Association of America awards had my imagination running — especially about today’s awarding of the Most Valuable Players for the American and National Leagues.

Maybe I watched too many beauty pageants growing up, or spent too much timing playing with that Miss America Barbie doll I had, but hearing “five finalists” made me think of something like this picture. Well, with their heads perhaps in a little better proportion to the rest of their bodies (especially Ryan Braun’s) — but you get the idea thanks to this Photoshop by Miranda Remaklus. (Yes, sadly, that is not an actual photo. Ryan Braun’s head might be large in real life, but not quite that big. And what else would you expect from a Cardinals fan except insults about Ryan Braun? Other than to say doesn’t Yadier Molina look genuinely pretty in pink? Especially with his red cap on?)

While I still hold out hope for seeing them lined up together in the MLB Network studio tonight wearing beautiful evening gowns and gorgeous jewels, here’s a closer look at the five finalists for Mr. NL MVP. And, unlike other beauty pageants, this award is based strictly on talent. (Because, while it might be appealing to see Andrew McCutchen in a bathing suit — very appealing, actually — I can do without seeing Yadi in one. Sorry, Yadi. But I do still love you.)

Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
The numbers (all via Baseball Reference)

• .319/.391/.595, 41 home runs, 112 RBI, 6.8 WAR
• Led the NL in home runs, runs scored, total bases, OPS with .987
• Second in RBI, hits (112)
• Third in batting average, WAR

Can the reigning Mr. NL MVP keep his crown? For 2012 he had more hits, RBI and total bases than last year, as well as 11 more home runs with his league-leading and career-high 41. Will that be enough? Probably not …
» Continue reading “Who Will Be Mr. National League MVP?”

San Francisco Giants

It looks like the Giants are the only NL West team heading for the playoffs. (Unless a miracle occurs in L.A.) So for now, they’re just gearing up for the postseason, getting their pitching in order and preparing for what they hope will be a long run into October.

The big story for the Giants are the contributions of both Hunter Pence and Marco Scutaro who were both acquired via trades in July. Scutaro has collected 41 RBI in 56 games while hitting an astonishing .361 as a Giant. And while Pence may not have Scutaro’s lofty average he has 39 RBI in 53 games with the Giants.

Both players have been a big part of the Giants run toward the postseason and have helped to alleviate the absence of Melky Cabrera.

» Continue reading “NL West Recap: Giants In. Everyone Else (Most Likely) Out.”

As you may have picked up by now, I like to get my fellow Aerys Sports writers to help me out when it comes to picking a Designated Hotter. This week’s DH is Carlos Quentin, outfielder for the San Diego Padres. The Padres are under .500 and fourth in the NL West so, as an Aerys MLB writer said of naming Carlos Quentin this week’s Designated Hotter: at least it would be something for the Padres fans.

So here ya go, Padres fans. Sadly, the only picture of Carlos in a San Diego uniform that I could find (and legally use) was his MLB headshot. Sorry about that. The rest of the photos come from Keith Allison, one of my very favorite Flickr users.

Serious works for Carlos.

» Continue reading “Designated Hotter: Carlos Quentin”

NL West Standings 8-31-12 – Courtesy of MLB.com

Can you believe it? We have reached the last day of August. It seems like Opening Day was just yesterday and here we are at the time when things will begin to get very interesting in the MLB Division races.

The next 34 days – today included – are bound to be agonizing for some, exciting for others and a mixture of both for everyone else. So let’s get to it, shall we?

San Francisco Giants

Well, look who is in first place in the Division. Since we last visited the NL West, there’s been a big change in the standings. The Giants, who were a half game back two weeks ago, now find themselves up four and half games on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Giants are 8-2 in their last 10 and are hoping to pull away from the Dodgers as the dog days of summer turn into the cooler days of Autumn. They just swept a three-game series against the lowly Houston Astros with Santiago Casilla, George Kontos and Ryan Vogelsong all earning victories. They traveling to Chicago to play another three-game set against the Cubs this weekend.

For more on the Giants, please visit Third Street Kings

» Continue reading “NL West Recap: One Giant(s) Step Into First Place”

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have managed to reclaim the top spot in the division after going back and forth from sharing 1st place to 2nd place. They haven’t lost steam since the All-Star Break ended and they’re 6-4 in their last 10 games. Sweeping the Giants also helped in their pursuit to regain 1st place.

In the past few weeks, the Dodgers acquired Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins before the trade deadline and Joe Blanton from the Philadelphia Phillies on the waiver wire. Ramirez has been hitting .308/.382/.436 with an OPS of .818, OPS+ of 126, BABIP of .348, and an ISO of .128 in 20 games and 89 plate appearances.

To state the obvious, it’s safe to say that the Dodgers are doing all they can to find ways to strengthen their team for a playoff push and it shows.

For more on the Dodgers, visit Foul Territory. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: Back To The Top For LA”

Standings via MLB.com

San Francisco Giants

After losing their place at the top of the standings, they’re back at the top of the standings. They swept the Astros and took two of three from the Braves for a 5-1 post-All-Star Break record. Their way of winning has been … very odd, to say the least, winning games that seem unwinnable, but they won.

There’s also been some positives with the club lately: Tim Lincecum churned out his best start of the season, going eight innings, giving up five hits, zero runs, and one walk, while striking out 11. It may not be a solidified comeback, but it’s encouraging for the Giants nonetheless.

For more on the Giants, visit Third Street Kings. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: There’s A New Leader ‘Round Here”

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

Though the Dodgers are still in first place today, that wasn’t always the case for the past two weeks. They were swept in San Francisco — and also shut out for every game in the series — and then lost possession of the top spot in the standings. But, they managed to get a win streak up to three games and reclaim first place while the Giants couldn’t hold on.

Matt Kemp is still on the disabled list, and Andre Ethier was just recently placed there too. But they keep finding ways to win when they need to, despite a You Can’t Predict Baseball-ish lineup being thrown out there every some odd night.

For more on the Dodgers, visit Foul Territory. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: It’s Getting Interesting Now”

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are still in first place, so that means whatever they’re doing is going right. They also have the best record in baseball at 37-21.

However, they have been plagued with injuries. Clayton Kershaw has been dealing with plantar fasciitis, Javy Guerra has a small meniscus tear and will be out for four to six weeks, Matt Kemp was placed back on the DL with a strained left hamstring and is expected to be back in late June or early July.

They have been trotting out You Can’t Predict Baseball-esque lineups every day, yet they still manage to win. They also have not regressed much, so who knows what they’re going to do next? They also just swept the Phillies, so there’s that.

For more on the Dodgers, visit Foul Territory. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: Same Ol’, Same Ol’”

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

Nothing much has changed since the season began and the Dodgers are still at the top of the division. Recently, they swept the St. Louis Cardinals and took a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Clayton Kershaw’s last game, which was against the Cardinals, was as solid as it could be — going the distance with a complete game shutout, allowing no walks, striking out four, and giving up six hits. A.J. Ellis has been a solid part of the lineup, hitting .327/.449/.513 with an ISO of .186, a wOBA of .411, and a BABIP of .398.

On the injury front, Matt Kemp is still on the DL. Mark Ellis was recently released from the hospital, thankfully with all limbs. Ellis had an emergency fasciotomy and could’ve lost his leg. The surgery was successful, however, and no legs were lost.

It’s clear that even with injuries, the Dodgers have been able to keep their position in the NL West standings. Will there be a regression? Who knows. Right now, the Dodgers are still in first without Matt Kemp.

For more on the Dodgers, visit Foul Territory. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: The Leader Remains the Same”

Standings via MLB.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are still on fire in the NL West. They’re currently tied with the Washington Nationals as the best team in the NL (which, okay, none of this could’ve been predicted before the season began, but it is still only May, after all).

They’ve lost their last two games and are 5-5 in their last ten games, but that hasn’t stopped them from keeping the lead. Matt Kemp is still putting up meteoric numbers: .404/.491/.851 AVG/OBP/SLG line with a wOBA of .542 and an ISO of .447. Not a small sample size anymore and golly gee whiz, those are some dang good numbers.

Ace Clayton Kershaw is putting up numbers just as stellar: 2.63/3.19/2.82 ERA/FIP/xFIP line with a K/9 rate of 8.12 and a BABIP of .225.

If the Dodgers can sustain this, there’s no telling how far they’ll go. » Continue reading “NL West Recap: Dodgers Continue To Win”