Seven
hundred fifteen home runs. It’s only happened twice in history; well, at the
Major League Baseball level. Barry Bonds finally surpassed Babe
Ruth. His eyes are now set, not on Hank Aaron’s number of 755, rather
on helping his San Francisco Giants contend in a very tough National League West
Division. While hitting 40 additional home runs might be a stretch for Bonds
this season, it might not be for Albert Pujols and Jason
Bay
who are just tearing up the league right now. So, with May about to come to a
close, let’s get right to it:
East
Division
New
York
Mets (31-20)
On
May 1, Xavier Nady was batting .323; as of May 29, he's batting .267. And
now he's on the 15-day Disabled List after an appendectomy, but he's expected to
be out four to six weeks. The Mets are 11 games over .500 and they've used 10
different starting pitchers this season. Just imagine where'd they be if they
had a stronger staff.
Philadelphia
Phillies (27-24)
As
the temperatures get into the 90s, Ryan Howard is heating up. The young
Phillies phenom had a nine-game streak ended Tuesday where he had driven in at
least one RBI. He knocked in 17 runs in that period, including six long balls
that bring his season total to 18. Brett Myers earned his fourth win of
the season tossing 8.0 strong innings of two-run ball Tuesday as he dropped his
ERA to 2.80.
Atlanta
Braves (27-25)
Oscar Villarreal
is making that baseball term "bullpen vulture" mainstream these days. He's one
of those pitchers out of the pen that gets into games when score is tied or
within a run. He gets his job done, and then watches as his teammates take the
lead. What's that mean? Well, he now has a 7-0 record out of the pen, better
than most starting pitchers in the league. And it's not like he's doing anything
special. That 4.07 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 24.1 innings isn't anything to call
home about, but he's been the right guy at the right time seven times this year.
Villarreal's latest victory came in a 13-12 11-inning, victory Sunday after his
teammates hit eight long balls. They were swinging for the fences all right -
they also struck out 17 times in the first nine innings.
Washington
Nationals (21-32)
In
his first full season as the Nationals third baseman, Ryan Zimmerman is
making his presence known. The youngster has nine homers already and 32 RBI. If
they want to get back on track, though, the Nats need Jose Guillen to
drastically improve on that dismal .212 batting average that has produced just
19 RBI. Since the not-so-slugger is nursing a bad hamstring on the disabled
list, maybe he'll also find his swing during his time off.
Florida
Marlins (17-33)
You
know Joe Girardi enjoyed sweeping the Cubs, but he must have really
enjoyed watching his club take it to Pedro Martinez and the Mets en route
to a 5-1 victory. Miguel Cabrera has raised his batting average to .343.
Though he only has eight home runs this season, you know it's just a matter of
time. Just think what he might do if he finds himself on a team in a pennant
race come August and September.
Central
Division
St. Louis
Cardinals (33-19)
Last
season's National League Cy Young Award Winner Chris Carpenter was placed
on the disabled list with a diagnosis of bursitis in his shoulder. The
inflammation is only supposed to keep Carpenter out for the minimum number of
days, but don't be surprised if the Cards give their ace more time. With Albert
Pujols doing his thing, they surely can afford to. Pujols has been a one-man
wrecking crew. He has 25 homers and 64 RBI. After Pujols you have Juan
Encarnacion's six home runs and Jim Edmonds' 29 RBI.
Cincinnati
Reds (28-24)
The
Reds are 3-7 in their last 10 games. If they're for real, they're going to have
to prove it during this 16-game stretch against NL Central divisional opponents.
So far, they're 0-2. Catcher Jason LaRue has really struggled, falling
into an 0-for-14 slump that has his batting average sinking below .200. Relief
pitcher Todd Coffey remains the lone pitcher out of the bullpen with an
ERA below 3.00 - Coffey's ERA is an impressive 1.24 in 28.2 innings
pitched.
Houston
Astros (27-26)
Roger Clemens
appears to have a one-year deal, but the Astros learned once again on Monday
that they need their bullpen to support stellar starting pitching. Roy Oswalt was solid once again pitching 6.0 strong innings against the
Cardinals and striking out Albert Pujols with two on in the fifth inning
protecting a 1-0 lead. His bullpen couldn't do the same. Pujols made Chad Qualls the latest victim of his dominance by launching a three-run,
game-winning homer into the hot, humid air of Busch Stadium in the seventh
inning of the series opener.
Milwaukee
Brewers (26-26)
Bill Hall
is showing he can put up power numbers with the big boys this season. Hall has
12 home runs, 27 RBI, and a .607 slugging percentage, which is far better output
than what was expected of him this year so far. As for Derrick Turnbow,
he blew his second save of the year against Philly on Friday, but pulled out the
win. He then got right back on the horse and closed out his 15th game on
Saturday against those same Phils.
Chicago
Cubs (20-31)
From
no-hitters gone bad to relay throw blunders to dropped pop flies, some might
ask: what else could go wrong. After back-to-back sweeps at the hands of the
Marlins and Braves, the Cubs have managed to bounce back and win two games as
they kick off a string of divisional series. Kerry Wood looked solid in
earning is first win of the season against the Reds on Memorial Day. Jacque Jones is also starting to bring his stick around. The Cubs right fielder has
raised his batting average to .278 and has eight home runs and 26 RBI, which
isn't a bad first two months of the season. Michael Barrett, who started
that brawl by blasting A.J. Pierzynski in the jaw, received a 10-game
suspension that he has appealed and hopes to reduce by a couple
games.
Pittsburgh
Pirates (18-34)
The
Buccos are starting to hit the ball and are winners of four of their last five
games. During that period they've scored 50 runs. Who's leading the charge? None
other than the NL Player of the Week
Jason
Bay.
The Pirates monster youngster who has won the NL's top player honors for the
second consecutive week has raised his batting average over .300. With nine home
runs and 20 RBI since May 20, he's about as hot as they come right now. The
Pirates also activated Sean Casey this week, which means that Craig Wilson will go back to bench duty for a while.
West
Division
Arizona
Diamondbacks
(30-21)
Brandon Webb
has been nothing short of remarkable this season. After two months he stands
with an 8-0 record following back-to-back complete game shutouts. Center fielder
Eric Byrnes has been equally as remarkable as of late. He's one of the
hottest hitters in baseball right now with a 13-game hit streak, which has
brought his batting average to a steady .322.
Los
Angeles
Dodgers (30-22)
Nomar
Garciaparra
is batting .362 with five homers and 34 RBI in 33 games. Do people still think
he's washed up? I guess we'll make
it fair and check back with him at the All-Star break. In 34 games, Kenny Lofton is batting .315, has 11 stolen bases, and has scored 27 times. This
isn't uncommon for Lofton, so why has this guy worn eight different jerseys in
the last six seasons? Now Eric Gagne is ready to return to his club,
after he finishes serving a two-game suspension. At the rate of veteran success
with the Dodgers, does anyone want to bet against Gagne?
Colorado
Rockies
(27-25)
Was
it any surprise that Byung-Hyun Kim surrendered number 715 to Barry
Bonds? Kim has been haunted ever since games four and five of the 2001 World
Series, and it appears no end is near. How about the season Brad Hawpe is
having in right field for the Rockies?
Hawpe continues to impress with his .322 batting average, but his power has also
been quite noticeable. Hawpe has 11 home runs and 33 RBI. Forget the thin air
effect, too. Eight homers and 22 RBI have come while on the
road.
San
Diego
Padres (27-25)
Catcher
Josh Bard is batting .395 in 18 games with the Padres this season and
he's got five homers and 14 RBI to go along with that solid batting average.
Talk about putting the pressure on Mike Piazza to put up or move over.
Chris Young took a no-no into the eighth inning before that Brad Hawpe
guy broke it up Tuesday evening. Young finished the game with 8.0 innings
pitched in leading his club to a 2-0 victory over the Rockies.
San
Francisco
Giants (26-26)
At
last! Barry Bonds slugged number 715 and passed Ruth in the history books. It
was obviously just the second time we have seen someone hit a home run counted
in a career as number 715. What's even more classic about it is that the Giants
radio announcer's microphone went silent in the middle of the call. What are the
odds in that happening? Maybe now the Giants can move on with their season.
Maybe not.
Got
questions or comments? Sound off to pete@petekhazen.com.