A handful of days and pitchers and catcher report. Yes, we’re all excited about the upcoming 2011 season here on Call to the Pen. All of the FanSided MLB staff is just as anxious for the season to get underway as well.
What can we expect from the 2011 season. Well, I’ve gathered a few storylines to watch for this upcoming season. This isn’t to say there aren’t others, but these are drilled into my head.
1. Albert Pujols
We haven’t even hit spring training yet and every other article, column or blog post you read is about the Cardinals first baseman and his possibility of hitting the free agent market after this upcoming season. He needs a contract and he wants paid…like A-Rod. Nathaniel authored an excellent post (a highly suggested read) about the future Hall of Famer. While the debate continues if he’s worth the reported 10-year, $300 million tag, I have one thought. Actually, a question. If Pujols goes into the season without that contract extension, how big of distraction will it be for the others in St. Louis? It will be, but maybe the better question is how will they handle that distraction?
Another thought. What if the Cards struggle? Only a thought.
2. The Phillies starting rotation…best ever?
Logical question. I mean, you now have four bona fide aces toeing the slab. Anything short of a World Series win would be deemed as a failure, wouldn’t it? This staff is as solid as there is. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt could be the next Fab Four. I know I’m not the only one to think this, but what could have been for 2010 had the Phillies kept Lee and not dealt him to the Seattle Mariners?
Yes, what would have happened last season?
3. Can the Giants repeat?
Another logical question. Not since the ’98-’00 Yankees has a team pulled off a repeat. There were no major changes to the roster. Sure, the WS hero is gone to Cincy, but I feel they upgraded with Miguel Tejada. Offensively anyway. Pitching shouldn’t be an issue. The offense may struggle, but Mark De Rosa will be back. That may give it a bump. Most of the Giants offseason work was internal.
This roster was good enough to win it all in 2010, but what about 2011?
A repeat of his 2010 season would definitely put to rest the chatter of something smelling afoul. Something close to that should as well. A drastic fall off would make a lot of people wonder. You know you had that thought. But I’m thinking that no matter what Bautista’s production will be in 2011, the lingering thought will do just that, linger. Almost a no-win situation for the AL’s breakout performance of 2010.
It’s a shame really.
5. The Pittsburgh Pirates and that nasty streak
18 and counting. That’s the number of consecutive seasons in which the Pirates have posted a sub-.500 winning percentage. 2011 doesn’t lok like it will be the year, but baseball can be a funny game. They appear to have a decent offensive club. If the Bucs are to pull it off in 2011, it will be with the bats as the starting staff has not too much to offer. The Pirates haven’t finished above .500 since their last playoff appearance in 1992. They lost to the Atlanta Braves in seven games. The Braves won Game 7 by scoring three in the bottom of the ninth. They haven’t recovered.
Yes, a pitcher with a record of 1-11 won his arbitration hearing against the club. Bad sign?
6. The Boston Red Sox
Could be the sexy pick by many to win the AL East. Adding Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez should provide a boost in the offense. No qualms with the offense, but can the pitching hold up to the other end of the deal? Will we see the “old” Josh Beckett? Will we finally see the “real” Daisuke Matsuzaka? Come think of it. The more I think, the more questions I have.
And this could be Big Papi’s last go around in Boston, too.
Not that long ago, Sizemore was considered an elite player. Four consecutive seasons of 20+ HR, 75+ RBI, .275+ BA, 100+ runs scored and 20+ SB. Guy could cover some ground in the field, too. Then the injury bug grabbed Sizemore and never let go. In 2010, he only managed to play in 33 games after seeing the field in 106 games in ’09 also due to injury.
If Sizemore is healthy and plays well, does the Tribe try to deal him as a means to replenish the system? Trade rumors did briefly surface.
8. The post-Bobby Cox Atlanta Braves
Will the Braves be able to function without Cox calling the shots? Hard to imagine he won’t be in a uniform this upcoming season. Cox is as much of the game as the baseball itself. Those that have played under Cox will have a major adjustment period ahead of them. But bringing in Fredi Gonzalez as the skipper should keep a bit of normalcy as he served as a Cox assistant before taking the Marlins job in 2007.
Then again. Can it be normal without the presence of Cox?
9. Dodgers and the dollars
What can be said about the Dodgers that hasn’t already been said. The divorce of the McCourts still has those in charge of running the franchise in a state of flux. We hear that things will be as there were previous to the marriage being ended, but with the lack of movement, you wonder if we’re being fed a line. The only real move roster-wise was signing Juan Uribe to play second base.
And there’s no Joe Torre in the dugout. The keys for the car now rest in the hands of Don Mattingly who has no MLB managerial experience. That in itslef will provide an interesting backdrop to the Dodgers season.
10. The young arms…in Oakland
You hear “young arms” and almost instinctively think of the Cincinnati Reds. What about the cast they have in Oakland? Among the six starters listed on the A’s depth chart, Dallas Braden is 27. Brett Anderson is only 23. Gio Gonzalez, 25. Trevor Cahill will be 23 on March 1st. Brandon McCarthy is the same age as Braden. The elder statesman is former A’s pitcher now returning A’s hurler Rich Harden…at 29. The average age of these six is 25.7.
And don’t forget Andrew Bailey, Jerry Blevins and Joey Devine. They’re all under 30 as well.
Oh, there’s more to watch for the 2011 season. The Rangers and the Reds, can they repeat their 2010 performances. Are the Brewers all-in for 2011? Will Manny function in Tampa?
2011 should provide as much for us as 2010.
You can stay current on all the Call to the Pen content and news by following us on Twitter, Facebook, or by way of our RSS feed. Steve Engbloom is the lead writer for Blog Red Machine, the Cincinnati Reds blog on the FanSided network. Steve’s regular column, “Olde Man’s Tavern” appears on Call to the Pen every Friday.