Hard to find stuff that isn’t about A-Rod or Barry Bonds these days (I just realized that “indicted” and “inducted” share all but one letter — yeah, I’m real quick that way), but here’s something kind of fun: Baseball America has released its list of Top 20 prospects from the Arizona Fall League in ‘07.
Cameron Maybin and Evan Longoria at the top should come as no surprise. Several others make sense as well. One name I didn’t expect to see near the top was Matt LaPorta.
I understand that LaPorta has jaw-dropping power, but weren’t there questions about his defense? And …read more

That’s the question Jacob at Vegas Watch asks. Actually he asked it earlier in the week, and I’m just now getting around to it. Yes, I’m lame.
Jacob’s analysis is solid, but I disagree with the conclusion, mainly because it gives voters too much credit. Specifically, I don’t know that Prince Fielder will be penalized much for his defense if he keeps leading the league in homers, nor do I have confidence in voters’ ability to understand (or care) just how much Matt Holliday has been helped by Coors Field.
I think the race will come down to Fielder, Holliday, and last …read more

Arizona right-hander Brandon Webb’s scoreless innings streak is up to 42. Jacob at Vegas Watch calculates Webb’s chances of breaking Orel Hershiser’s record of 59 set back in 1988. The odds are long, but better than you might think. Still, Webb does have to go through Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, and the Brewers in Milwaukee…

I hope y’all had a good weekend. Mine would have been better if the Padres hadn’t been so busy losing a series at home to Houston, but oh well. Here are your games for Monday…
American League

Mariners at Twins, 5:10 p.m. PT — How in the world can Horacio Ramirez have a 7-4 record despite a 7.38 ERA? If his performance doesn’t convince you that won-loss record is a terrible way to evaluate starting pitchers, then nothing will. Opponents are batting .341/.407/.518 against the southpaw; that’s roughly what Joe Mauer did last year. Right-hander Matt Garza (2-3, 2.05 ERA) starts for …read more

Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander spun a no-hitter Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. Yep, he shut down the likes of J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, and Geoff Jenkins for a full nine innings. Walked Bill Hall all three times, but hey, a guy’s got to know his limitations.
Verlander fanned 12 batters on the night. You know how many pitches he threw? 112. That’s sick.
Another thing that’s sick is Verlander’s improvement this season. He was outstanding as a rookie, but check this out:

Justin Verlander, 2006 vs 2007

Year
Age
IP/GS
ERA+
H/9
HR/9
BB/9
K/9

Stats are through games of June 12, 2007, and are courtesy of Baseball-Reference.

2006
23
6.20
125
9.05
1.02
2.90
6.00

2007
24
6.46
156
6.96
0.75
3.21
7.29

Talk about nice …read more