April 28th: Cardinals Designated Bitter

The Cardinals were the overwhelming favorite to win the NL Central this year, as they so often are. Their lineup is well balanced with young, exciting hitters, mixed in with the seasoned veterans who know how to make a playoff push. The only real area of concern was pitching depth, but the presence of veteran ace Adam Wainwright provided some assurance that the staff would, at the very least, receive a quality start every fifth day.

This past weekend, that security blanket caught fire, as Wainwright injured his achilles tendon running out a pop fly during a game against the Brewers. While his spirits appeared high on Saturday night, it was reported on Sunday that he would be out for the season.

This led to two divergent reactions. The first, expected answer was a shadow of doubt descending on the Cardinals. All of a sudden, the Central powerhouse looked vulnerable, leaving the door wide open for the surging Cubs and Pirates to take a crack at winning the division. At the same time, a spark caught fire in the debate of the use of the Designated Hitter in the National League.

The DH has been in use in the American League since 1973, allowing teams to use a hitter that goes to the plate in the place of the pitcher. Generally this is a strong hitter, with some of the game’s best including David Ortiz, Victor Martinez, and Prince Fielder. The National League does not employ this rule, and instead sends the pitcher to the plate every 9th batter.

The argument has long existed that the DH should be implemented in the National League. The presence of the pitcher in the lineup requires managers to work in much more refined ways, using pinch hitters and double switches that their AL counterparts need not utilize. Another feather in the hat of DH fans is the overall lack of offense that is spread across the league. With more pitchers dominating hitters, the NL would benefit by adding another potent bat to many lineups, and should drive up production across the board.

As a Designated Hitter, David Ortiz is one of the American
League's best hitters. Should the National League follow suit?

While the argument in favor of adding the DH is valid, the Wainwright injury should not strengthen or hurt anyone’s case. Sure, he injured himself while batting. But his injury was the kind of accident that could just have easily resulted from his stepping awkwardly off the pitcher’s mound. Major League Baseball players are required to be athletes at the highest level, including pitchers. Just because one pitcher rolled his ankle and injured himself while batting does not mean that grabbing a bat is a safety hazard that pitchers can’t afford. If the same thing had happened to an outfielder, we wouldn’t even bat an eyelash.

If the DH rule was implemented in the National League, it would require a change in makeup for most lineups. Generally, NL teams don’t have the extra big bat sitting on their bench. This would lead to some dramatic shifts away from small-ball bench players in favor of adding another bat to play every day.

Overall, the DH rule could be a valuable addition to the National League. It would lead to more offense, provide more jobs for better hitters, and allow pitchers to work on their specialty. But Adam Wainwright isn’t the reason to have the conversation. Wainwright’s injury, while occurring during an offensive opportunity, should not intimidate all pitchers out of the batter’s box.

If you enjoy the work of the Zoot Perspective, please visit my GoFundMe page, to help support me on my journey. Thank you very much.

For more content from ZPMedia, visit www.zootperspective.com.

April 24th: Contenders and Pretenders

The Major League Baseball season is wrapping up it’s third week, and teams are beginning to realize that the pleasant optimism of March doesn’t always carry over into the season. Some teams have come out as surprises, while others have faltered to a disappointing open. Which teams are legit? Which teams will fade down the stretch? The ZP: Left Fielder looks at which teams will continue as they are and which will turn things around, whether for the better or not.

Real Contenders:

American League - Detroit Tigers

This offense is terrifying. Yoenis Cespedes looks to be a perfect addition to a lineup that already included Miguel Cabrera, J.D. and Victor Martinez, and Ian Kinsler. The pitching has also been stellar, as Alfredo Simon looks to be continuing to develop into the All-Star he was last season. A healthy Justin Verlander would be the icing on the cake. Also, is Jose Iglesias even human? His defense is some of the most fun to watch in baseball.

National League - San Diego Padres

I’ve had issues with the revamped Padres, who have a lineup that, while daunting, doesn’t necessarily look like it will gel together. San Diego has come out looking strong, though, and seem to be in contention for the West. Most importantly, the pitching staff has the potential to be filthy dominant, with Tyson Ross as a nasty game-changer.

Pretenders:

American League - Houston Astros

Raise your hand if you expected the Astros to be leading the division after the first three weeks? I thought not. Unfortunately, this isn’t going to continue very long. As the rest of the division heats up and the young Astros squad comes back to earth, this team will fade out a bit. This might be a sign of things to come, though, and a reason to get excited in Texas for the future.

National League - New York Mets

The Mets are baseball’s hottest team, with a long win streak under their belts. The excitement surrounding this team is huge, and will definitely drive them forward. Unfortunately, like the Astros, the rest of the division will soon heat up, and the loss of David Wright (again) leaves New York vulnerable to a downward spiral. It won’t be devastating, but this team is gearing up for a drop-off.

Real Bad:

American League: Chicago White Sox

The White Sox were supposed to be the greatest thing to ever happen to baseball after a busy offseason, but that hasn’t been the case. They were absolutely knocked around by the Royals early on, and haven’t gotten their feet set. The return of Chris Sale will help, but this team is not the powerhouse many expected. Expect us to be talking about this team as the biggest disappointment of the year come the offseason.

National League: Milwaukee Brewers

We knew the Brewers would fall from their pedestal after last season’s epic run and eventual fall. But did anyone see this coming? The Brewers can’t seem to win anything, and they have been the punching bag for an angry Cincinnati team this week. Don’t expect things to get any better now that Jonathan Lucroy is out with foot injury.

Slow Starts:

American League: Los Angeles Angels/Seattle Mariners

These two are expected to be the clash of titans on the West Coast deep into September. That being said, both have records with something left to be desired. The Angels’ Tuesday night beatdown of the As is a big sign of things to come, though, while the Mariners have a long list of perennial All-Stars that just haven’t heated up yet (yet being the key word). These two will turn into everything baseball fans expect, and leave their slow starts behind them.

National League: Washington Nationals

The Nationals were supposed to be unbeatable, and yet they sit just around .500 at the 10% mark of the season. Denard Span and Jayson Werth have come back from injuries, though, and a big walk-off win on Tuesday night could be enough to get the swagger going in D.C. This team is going to be formidable, it is just a matter of when.

April 21st: NBA Playoff Preview

While the NBA playoffs have already gotten underway, it’s never too late to get your predictions in for how things will shape up en route to the NBA Championship! Will LeBron James lead Cleveland to the promised land? Can the Warriors shoot their way into history? Will the Spurs add to their dynasty? The ZP: Left Fielder breaks it down:

Western Conference Round 1:

Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Winner: Warriors

The Pelicans fought hard to get into the playoffs, but don’t stand a chance against the dominant Warriors. The Pelicans might be serious competitors next year, but for now, they need to be content for having gotten in.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Winner: Trail Blazers

This is a toss-up series, as both teams are decent, with very little chance of going deep into the playoffs. The Trail Blazers have a little more star power, whereas the Grizzlies have faded since a dominant start to the season. Trail Blazers are the pick, but only by the smallest of “who cares?” margins.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs

Winner: Spurs

Last year, the Clippers thought that they had a shot at winning it all, but were derailed by the distraction of Donald Sterling. Meanwhile, the Spurs have sputtered this year a little bit, landing outside of home court advantage. The Spurs are too used to winning in April, though, and are the easy pick for an upset.

Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks

Winner: Mavericks

The Rockets should be much better than they are. With a superstar like James Harden and a big man like Dwight Howard, they should be more dominant. The Mavericks are a deep team that always seems to be in the chase in the playoffs. Another upset goes to a Texas team.

Eastern Conference Round 1:

Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets

Winner: Hawks

The Hawks seem to have had a year-long hot hand. The Nets squeaked into the playoffs in an abysmal Eastern Conference. This should be an easy appetizer for the Hawks, as they get their rhythm for a deep playoff run.

Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards

Winner: Raptors

If the first game is going to be any indication, this series is going to be a thriller. The Raptors are still steaming over their early exit from last season’s playoffs, while the Wizards are attempting to pull the same upset from a year ago. The nod goes to the Raptors, who need Kyle Lowry to step up bigger.

Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Winner: Bulls

The next-door neighbor series adds a little extra fun to two teams in very different positions at the start of the playoffs. The Bucks have been a young and talented surprise, while the Bulls look (fingers crossed) healthy for the first time in a long while. The Bulls look to be clicking on all cylinders, and should run away with this series.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

Winner: Cavaliers

Boston would have wanted to face anyone else. Literally, anyone else. A LeBron James led Cleveland team is a force to be reckoned with, and bodes ill for a young Celtics team trying to get their feet set. Cleveland also gets the chance to allow their young core to get their first experience in the playoffs.

Western Conference Round 2:

Warriors vs. Trail Blazers

Winner: Warriors

A West Coast showdown, the Warriors and Trail Blazers get credit for being the smallest market series in the playoffs. That being said, the Blazers could give the Warriors a little bit of a hiccup, but overall, this shouldn’t stop the tear that has been the Warriors’ season.

Spurs vs. Mavericks

Winner: Spurs

A good ‘ole fashion Texas showdown, the Spurs and Mavericks will repeat their first round faceoff from a year ago. Once again, the deep Mavericks will give the Spurs their money’s worth, but veteran experience will be the difference.

Eastern Conference Round 2:

Hawks vs. Raptors

Winner: Hawks

The Hawks, after making easy meat out of the Nets, will face a Raptors team that only squeaks by the Wizards. The momentum will be swinging toward Atlanta early, and the Raptors don’t strike me as a team with the toughness to overcome large quantities of adversity. Hawks move on.

Bulls vs. Cavaliers

Winner: Cavaliers

This may be the most exciting series of the postseason. Joakim Noah has already asked for the Central Division showdown, and a healthy Bulls team may be the toughest challenger to the Cavaliers’ supremacy in the Eastern Conference. This series will go a full seven games, and the Cavaliers will win it after the playoff fatigue sets in for the Bulls.

Western Conference Finals:

Warriors vs. Spurs

Winner: Warriors

This is the battle for Western supremacy, not only for this year, but for years to come. The Spurs are the tried and true champions, having been there often in the past decade. The Warriors are the young team trying to create a new way of winning in the NBA. It looks like it is finally time for the dynasty to give way to the next generation.

Eastern Conference Finals:

Hawks vs. Cavaliers

Winner: Cavaliers

The Hawks are a shooting team, which means they are susceptible to going cold. Their first real challenge will come against Cleveland who, by this point in the playoffs, will be rabid to seal the deal. The Cavaliers will make the Hawks look like a mirage, sending them home in five games.

NBA Championship

Warriors vs. Cavaliers

Winner: Cavaliers

This will be an epic battle, with this year’s top MVP candidate, Steph Curry, facing off against the NBA’s best player in LeBron James. James will be right there, so close to the promised land for his beloved Cavaliers, and will go into a beast mode we have never seen from the world’s most freakish athlete. This will be the James show, and will end in Cleveland’s first championship that anyone can remember.

If you enjoy the work of the Zoot Perspective, please visit my GoFundMe page, to help support me on my journey. Thank you very much.

For more content from ZPMedia, visit www.zootperspective.com.

April 15th: NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Preview

There is no better post-season in all of professional sports than the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. All 16 teams think they have a legitimate shot at the title, and momentum will be the key factor. A goalie gets hot for a series, and the championship favorite gets sent home early. A team’s offense starts to click, and the whole picture goes up in flames. This year will be no different.

What will transpire in the next two months? The ZP: Left Fielder can only guess!

Western Conference Round 1 -

St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild

Winner: Wild

The central division has been monstrous this year, and these two have been the cream of the crop. The Wild are on a tear, while the Blues are, for the first time in a long time, the favorite. Watch out for a physical Wild team to surprise the Blues for their second straight exit at the hands of a rival.

Nashville Predators vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Winner: Blackhawks

Both ended the regular season on sour notes, but both are put together for a big playoff run. The key to this series will be twofold: goalie play and experience. Pekka Renne is a beast when he’s hot, but Corey Crawford is a playoff machine. The Blackhawks take this series behind their experience and a fresh Patrick Kane.

Anaheim Ducks vs. Winnipeg Jets

Winner: Ducks

The Ducks haven’t had great luck at deep playoff runs. Meanwhile, the Jets are a big, physical team, that makes their opponent fight for every inch. This is going to be a surprisingly tough series, but the Ducks’ depth will see them through to the next round.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames

Winner: Canucks

Frankly, this is the least exciting series of the first round. The teams are fairly evenly matched, which means it will be fun to watch, but neither strike me as real threats in the West. That being said, Ryan Miller playing in Vancouver could be huge against a Flames team that may be a little burned out from the fight for the playoffs.

Eastern Conference Round 1 -

Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottowa Senators

Winner: Canadiens

The popular pick for first round upset is the Senators, who are on an absolute tear. That being said, Carey Price is one of the best goalies in the game (if not THE best), and the Canadiens have the experience to send the young Senators home early.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings

Winner: Lightning

Detroit has sat Jimmy Howard to start the series, not a good start for a team fighting against the pre-season favorite to come out of the East. The Lightning look built for a big run, and Ben Bishop and Steven Stamkos will be fun to watch.

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Winner: Rangers

The Penguins dodged a bullet by sneaking into the playoffs on the last day of the season. Meanwhile, the Rangers blew everyone else out of the water, despite missing Henrik Lundqvist for a good chunk of the season. Now that he’s back, the Rangers will treat the Penguins as a kickstart for their pursuit of a return to the Cup Finals.

New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals

Winner: Capitals

Many believed that the Capitals’ window for success had closed, yet here they are, looking like strong candidates in the East. The Islanders were fun to watch at the start of the season, although everyone was waiting for their inevitable (we thought) fall. Prediction: they will have their fall from grace this week, as the Capitals step up in a big way.

Western Conference Round 2 -

Wild vs. Blackhawks

Winner: Blackhawks

The Blackhawks have dispatched the Wild from the playoffs two years in a row, and are now looking to do it again. With a healthy Patrick Kane and a deep, deep offense, the Hawks will be a force to be reckoned with. The Wild thought they were one piece away from offing Chicago, but they’re not there yet.

Ducks vs. Canucks

Winner: Ducks

A western matchup that features two teams trying to take the Kings’ spot in the Western Conference finals, the Ducks and Canucks will have a lot to prove. This prediction depends on how the first round goes, but the Ducks look to be the favorite, assuming they can keep the momentum from having the most points in the West.

Eastern Conference Round 2 -

Canadiens vs. Lightning

Winner: Lightning

This is a goalie matchup for the ages. Carey Price is one of the finest in the world, while Ben Bishop’s size makes him a terrifying obstacle for opponents. This is going to be all about momentum, even more than most series, and the Lightning are poised to make their stab at the cup.

Rangers vs. Capitals

Winner: Rangers

The Rangers and Capitals have a long history together, and the sparks always fly when the two square off. This year, the Rangers are hungry and want to get back, while the Capitals will find themselves overwhelmed by a goalie that just can’t wait to be King.

Western Conference Finals -

Blackhawks vs. Ducks

Winner: Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are used to traveling to southern California to stake their claim on the Western Conference. This year, the Ducks will give Blackhawks a far easier challenge than the Kings last year. This will be a letdown of a series, compared with the fireworks of the earlier rounds. Owning all the momentum, the Blackhawks fly past the Ducks.

Eastern Conference Finals -

Lightning vs. Rangers

Winner: Rangers

This is going to be an absolutely epic series. The Lightning were the pre-season favorite to win it all, while the Rangers have turned themselves into post-season favorites. Who moves on? Once again, it comes down to Henrik, who is fresh, healthy, and ready to put together another champion-caliber performance.

Stanley Cup Finals:

Blackhawks vs. Rangers

Winner: Blackhawks

The West really is best. To get here, the Blackhawks will have to show an expert combination of grit, determination, and experience at handling the lime-light. If any team can do that, it’s this one. The Rangers will take it to six games, but the Hawks will hoist the Cup come June.

If you enjoy the work of the Zoot Perspective, please visit my GoFundMe page, to help support me on my journey. Thank you very much.

For more content from ZPMedia, visit www.zootperspective.com.

April 3rd: MLB Playoff Preview

Before we’ve played a single game, I’ve predicted the final standings for all six MLB divisions. Now, I take a look at the way the postseason will shape up. Who wins the World Series? You’re about to find out!

_____________________________________________________________

AL Wild Card:

Mariners over Indians - A faceoff between last year’s Cy Young finalists, Kluber is going to be enough to get the Tribe to the game, but the Mariners lineup will be able to get Seattle into the next round.

NL Wild Card:

Pirates over Cubs - The Cubs squeak in on the last day of the season, while the Pirates cruise to the postseason, only barely falling short of St. Louis. While Chicago owns the hearts of the country, the Pirates own the talent, and a third straight WC game gives Pittsburgh the edge.

AL Division Series:

Angels over Mariners - A division showdown in the Division Series. The Mariners will try to seek their revenge after losing out on the division crown, but the Angels will be out for blood after their embarrassing loss to Kansas City a year ago. Angels will win it in four.

Red Sox over Tigers - The matchup of the two best lineups in the American League will be a slugfest, especially if the pitching staffs limp into the postseason. This is totally dependent on who’s hot as the season expires, but the Red Sox have Kung Fu Panda, who knows how to get it done in October.

NL Division Series:

Nationals over Pirates - The Nationals will have an absolutely unbeatable staff, built for a long postseason run. The Pirates will, for the third straight year, draw a bad matchup in the postseason, and be headed home early. Luckily, they will have proven their intent to compete, so free agents will flock to Pittsburgh in 2016.

Dodgers over Cardinals - Clayton Kershaw will be begging for the ball in this series, and he will get his revenge. The Cardinals won’t have the pitching depth to make this year their year, and will watch as the Dodgers take their place in the next round.

AL Championship Series:

Angels over Red Sox - The cross country series will feature two teams with question marks at pitcher but rosters so deep, they will score by the truckload. I’m going with my gut and picking the Angels, who feel like they are ready to make the jump to postseason elite.

NL Championship Series:

Nationals over Dodgers - The pitching matchups in this series will make anyone drool. Look for Kershaw to square off against Scherzer, leaving Strasburg to make his October name for himself the following night. In the end, the Dodgers won’t be able to compete offensively with the Nationals, and Washington will visit the Fall Classic.

World Series:

Nationals over Angels - Baseball’s greatest pitching staff will face off against the greatest offense, in a baseball version of the Denver-Seattle Super Bowl. The matchup between Mike Trout and now MVP favorite Bryce Harper will be an epic battle that will set the tone for the future of the game. In the end, masterful pitching will once again decide the outcome of the game, and Harper’s Spring Training predictions will come away looking prophetic. The World Series Champions will be the Washington Nationals!

That’s how the ZP: Left Fielder sees the Major League Baseball season shaping up. Will it end the way we predict? Probably not. Don’t worry, though. I’ll be here in October to pick them again!

If you like the work of the ZPMedia team, please donate to our GoFundMe page. Thank you for your support.

April 2nd: MLB West Division Predictions

We wrap up our breakdown of every team in baseball with the West divisions. With the Mariners surging and the Astros growing ever-closer to their 2017 World Series date, the AL is full of excitement. Meanwhile, the NL holds the dominant Dodgers and the defending World Champs. The West will most certainly be wild this year.

American League West:

1. Angels

Everyone wants to declare the Angels secondary in their division, but that lineup is fierce. Having the greatest player on the planet helps, and I see Albert Pujols continuing to rebuild his career as he learns what it means to be an older player. The pitching is the one area of question, but this team is going to be better than anyone is giving them credit for.

2. Mariners

This looks to be the preeminent favorite to come out of the American League in October. I am not so sure, though, as the Mariners have a lot of growing and learning to do. Strong on all sides of the ball, the Mariners will be fun to watch this year, but we all need to keep our enthusiasm in check a little bit, as there is a lack of experience on this team that could cause a hiccup down the stretch.

3. Astros

Don’t look now, but the Astros look like they are getting to compete sooner rather than later. George Springer is going to be a star in this league, while the rest of the lineup saw great improvement with some wise offseason moves. The pitching is an area of concern, but the Astros are trending up, and could turn a lot of heads.

4. Athletics

Every year I predict the A’s won’t be as good as we expect, and every year the A’s are better than we expect. This year might just be the first time I’m right. A full blown fire sale left almost no one you’ve ever heard of on this team, and, while Billy Beane has always been a genius, his selling may have caught up to him this time.

5. Rangers

The Rangers were baseball’s least lucky team last year, and this year doesn’t look to be much better. The end to Yu Darvish’s season is a huge blow, and the Rangers are putting a lot of love behind Prince Fielder, who is coming off a serious injury. This team could be much better than I expect, but, if we learned anything from last year, it’s that you can’t get your hopes up in Arlington.

National League West:

1. Dodgers

The Dodgers had a dominant 2014 campaign come to a dramatic end, as Clayton Kershaw fell from grace in the postseason. This year, the team will bide their time until they can get their October revenge. A great lineup and a great rotation means this team will have no problem finding their way into the playoffs. What they do from there will define them.

2. Giants

Three championships in five years? This team is a dynasty, and Buster Posey is the reason why. While it would be clever to claim that this will be a down (odd numbered) year, the Giants will be competitive, and will be led by two of the brightest young stars in the sport in Posey and MadBum. The Giants aren’t as strong as they were in October, but they will still be a force.

3. Padres

The Padres will have six new starters on Opening Day, causing many to declare the Padres ready for contention. I’m not entirely sure that all of the pieces will come together as nicely as others might believe. This team will hit plenty of home runs, and the pitching will keep them competitive, but this will be the biggest disappointment of the season by a wide margin.

4. 
   Diamondbacks

I’ve loved the moves the Diamondbacks have made since Tony La Russa took over. If I were a pitcher, I would hide under the bed at the thought of Goldschmidt, Trumbo, and Thomas back to back to back. The young outfield corps is also very intriguing, and will give this team a spark. If it weren’t for a dreary pitching staff, I would boldly predict that this team would be my sleeper pick. Maybe next offseason they’ll be ready to finish the rebuild.

5. Rockies

The Rockies are a team full of parts, none of which can bring together the finished product. Tulowitzki, Gonzalez, Morneau, Blackmon, Arenado; there is plenty of star power, but nothing to show for it. This team needs to aggressively commit to rebuilding, and actually put together a product that can compete in all phases of the game.

Check back tomorrow for a look at the playoff picture and a full prediction. Who will come away with the Commissioner's Trophy in October? You’ll find out tomorrow!

If you like the work of the ZPMedia team, please donate to our GoFundMe page. Thank you for your support.