| BASEBALL |
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| 5.23.03 - Notes The Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays played a three game series this week, which was swept by Texas. Neither of these two teams has a particularly good pitching staff, which was evidenced by a total score of 23-17 in Texas' favor over the three games. Texas averaged 7.6 runs per game and Tampa Bay averaged 5.6 runs per game. Both teams' offenses this week were above the average even in this era of overinflated offensive statistics. The major league average is 4.74 runs per game. It must, of course, be taken into account that Texas and Tampa Bay are by no means average teams. Oh no, they are both well below average. Actually, Texas is an above average offensive team, scoring 5.57 runs per game, which ranks 5th in the majors. But, they allow an average of 6.28 runs per game, which is 29th in the majors. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, isn't good at either offense or defense. They score 4.59 runs a game, good for 20th, and they give up 5.85 runs per game, bad enough for 26th. I enjoy offense as much as the next guy, but it just doesn't seem right that a team can sweep a series after giving up 5.6 runs per game. ******* Eric Gagne is already up to 18 saves on the year. That puts him on pace to have 62 saves this season, which would surpass the record of 57 set by Bobby Thigpen in 1990. I have to admit that I thought Gagne was a flash in the pan last season when he burst onto the scene, but it now appears that he is the real deal. ***** I know it's been said before, but how cool is it that Montreal has started the season 30-17? That puts them on pace to win 103 games this year. Their record is incredible considering that they have no support in their hometown of Montreal, they play a portion of their home games in Puerto Rico, they are owned by Major League Baseball, and they have such a small budget that they were forced to trade their best pitcher (Bartolo Cologne) in the offseason. Their team is young and talented, and if MLB could get its head out of its ass and get the team sold to a group in either Washington or Portland, the new owners would have a damn good team to be proud of. *** Everyone believed that the Houston Astros would in the race in the National League Central this year, and they were right, but for different reasons that was thought. It was believed that with the addition of Jeff Kent to an already potent lineup, and the young stud starters having another year of experience under their belts, the Astros would dominate. Instead, their offense is tied for 14th in production and their young studs have fallen apart. Wade Miller is 2-5 on the year and Roy Oswalt started 3-4 before heading to the DL. What has kept Houston in the race has been their phenomenal middle relief. They have Ricky Stone with a 2.36 ERA at 4-0 with 3 holds, Octavio Dotel with a 1.40 ERA, at 3-1 with 2 saves and 8 holds, and Brad Lidge at 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA, 1 save and 4 holds. Those three, combined with Billy Wagner (12 saves, 1.67 ERA) combine to form possibly the best bullpen in the major leagues. If Miller, Oswalt, and the other young starters can bounce back from their poor start and live up to expectations, the Astros may be the team to watch in the National League. * If Ken Griffey, Jr. could only give Cincinnati 75% of his production from his last season in Seattle, Cinci might have the best outfield in baseball. 75% would be 36 homeruns and 100 rbi. Combine that with the pace that Austin Kearns (.309 45 152) and Adam Dunn (.237 59 124) are on and those numbers would be tough to top. |
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