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Slow Start? What Slow Start?
OK, time to stop the MLB nonsense about whether the Indians are for real.
They’re as real as Justin Masterson’s sinker, Shin-Soo Choo’s right arm, Carlos Santana’s batting eye, Orlando Cabrera’s experience and Asdrubal Cabrera’s talent.
Try this for real: The Indians own a majors-best 66 run differential and an MLB best 18-4 home record. They’ve scored the second-most runs in the A.L. and have the fourth-best ERA. They’re 7-2 against the A.L. East with the revived Red Sox returning to Cleveland looking for revenge after that three-game sweep they absorbed in the season’s first week.
Ron Washington knows they’re for real. Asked if he knew the Indians would be in first place when in spring training he asked Manny Acta to be an MLB All-Star coach, the Rangers managed replied, “I knew the Indians would be tough. They have some talent.”
Washington might have been one of the few to believe that two months ago. But he’s no longer alone. The Indians sit atop the MLB Power Poll for the fourth consecutive week. The Poll is convinced.
1. Indians (1). You can ask the Reds if the Tribe is for real. The Indians’ weekend sweep was first over Reds since 2004.
2. Cardinals (14). When talking about N.L. MVP candidates, Matt Holliday would be the place to start. Unless you started with Lance Berkman.
3. Red Sox (13). About that 2-10 start, perhaps the Red Sox just wanted to play fair and give the rest of the league a head start.
Adrian Gonzalez has provided the offensive punch the Red Sox were hoping for when they traded for him this offseason. (AP Photo)
4. Giants (6). Latest wrist injury to Mark DeRosa could be the end, making his the saddest in a season that has seen more than its share of injuries.
5. Phillies (4). Chase Utley is back in time for rematch of last year’s divisional series against the Reds. Time for the rest of the Phillies’ offense to return, too.
6. Yankees (15). What a debut: Right-hander Hector Noesi gives Yankees four scoreless innings to win 15-inning marathon in Baltimore, providing the difference between a so-so and a good week for the club.
Royals Young Sensation Creates Wave
Zack Greinke is the Royals young sensation, creating a wave of excitement, the 25 year old right hander delivered a gem with the best starts ever to a season. He is yet to allow a single run in tow starts. His six-hit, no-walk, 10-strikeout complete game blanking of the White Sox on Monday raised his record to 6-0, with a near perfect 0.40 ERA. Only two other pitchers in Major League history have done as well — Walter “Big Train” Johnson in 1913 and Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.
Kansas City can you call him the best in baseball?
He was a pretty polished 13-10 with a gleaming 3.47 ERA last year. Blinding new record 6-0, 0.40 ERA, 54 strikeouts — all bests in the MLB. Greinke had a 3-0 victory over Chicago, and White Sox manager praised his performance stating: It doesn’t surprise me what he’s doing right now at all,” Guillen said, “because he’s that good. He’s been good for a long time. Now he believes in himself.
“To me, he’s the best in the league right now.”
Walking no one, with his sixth victory he struck out 10 batters and only threw 104 pitches. The Kansas City Royals are in first place in the American League Central, one and a half games over the Tigers. The Royals have a 15-11 record and the fans are feeling good with impressive crowds and excited about Zack!
Mariners Face Royals Pitcher Sidney Ponson
The Cactus League game Thursday with the Mariners Sidney Ponson will be judged by the Royals watching him play against the big boys, Triple-A team, Seattle Mariners. Ponson already gave the Mariners a run for their money zipping through five innings with just 49 pitches. He gave up one run, on a homer.
Manager Trey Hillman said, “He’s already stretched out to 75, 80 pitches, and he’s going to compete for a starting job the same way four or five other guys are, and we’ll see where that falls. Those others include Brandon Duckworth, Robinson Tejeda and Heath Phillips.
The Aruban right-hander reported to camp on a MLB deal, ready for a new chance. “Yeah, I signed a Minor League contract,” he said. “They told me straight up, nothing is for sure.” Ponson on The Netherlands team surprised the baseball world by twice defeating a loaded Dominican Republic team in the Classic.
Pitching last season for the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees he had faced the Royals before and came away impressed stating: “I pitched against this team last year, and it’s not easy,” Ponson said. “It’s not like in the past when you come to KC, and you say, ‘Oh, it’s KC, you can take it easy.’
He is a competitive player both in the present and the past, so what might he add to the Kansas Royals? Maybe some more scrapes and controversies to heat things up.
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