Pitchers and Catchers Report to Camp.

The 2011 major baseball season is now just getting underway as pitchers and catchers report to camp and for a lot of teams it’s that time of year to say our mine goal is to make it to the postseason and the World Series and for other teams it's a lot more than just making it there, it more about winning the World Series. It is also that time of year to start asking yourself which team has the best starting five on paper heading into spring training. Last year most people said between the Phillies because of adding free agent pitcher Roy Halladay and the Giants because of how young their staff was, they probably had the best starting five. As we know the Giants won the 2010 World Series

after defeating the Atlanta Braves in NLDS, the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS, and the Texas Rangers in the World Series. This season could have the same resolute in the National League. As for the American League a lot of people picked the Boston Red Sox to make it to the World Series last year after the big free agent signing of John Lackey. That gave the Sox one of the best rotations in the AL, but as we know the Sox didn't make it to the postseason last year after having 18-19 of the their starting players on the DL. As for the AL League Champ Texas Rangers they weren't even put on a list as teams to worry about only because of how unknown their pitching staff was. Last year when the Rangers traded for Cliff Lee that helped the Rangers win their first American League West Division title in their history and they would go on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS, the New York Yankees in the ALCS, and then fell short to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. This year a lot of people are going with the Boston Red Sox again and this might be a surprise to some but a lot of people are saying the Minnesota Twins might have the second best starting five in the AL.




I am going to start things off in the National League East and the buzz that has been the talk around baseball of the adding Cliff Lee to once again rejoin with the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee will be rejoined with already a really good pitching staff with Roy Halladay, Roy Owsalt, Cole Hamels, and Joe Blanton. Lee who came over to Phillies from Cleveland in 2009 when he was traded helped the Phillies win a division title and help them get back to the 2009 World Series, as we know the Phillies lost the 2009 World Series to the New York Yankees.

In the 2009 offseason Lee was then trade to the Seattle Mariners which brought Roy Halladay over from the Toronto Blue Jays. In the 2010 offseason Lee was the hottest free agent pitcher on the market and at the time only two teams had a bid on Lee between his current team the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees. The Yankees made the highest bid offering Lee 8 years $168 million dollars and the Rangers offered Lee 6 years $148 million dollars, but out of nowhere the Phillies got themselves back into the return of Cliff Lee. After Lee heard the Phillies were in this bid he got on his phone and asked his agent "Make something happen. I wanna go back to Philly, if they can come up with something in between that rang". The Phillies offered Lee 5 years $120 million dollars and Lee took it. He turned down $48 million and $28 million dollars more to play with the Phillies for less. Someone finally showed in this game isn't all about the money, now don't get me wrong Lee is still making out very nicely but at least he is doing it where we wants to be. Lee said during his press conference that "I never wanted to leave this place to begin with. When I found out Philly was in the mix it was a no brainier not to wanna come back and pitch along with Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels, and Blanton".

Now only paper this does look like the best rotation in baseball and I think it has a chance to be the best in baseball. But it doesn't mean anything yet until they win a World Series, they have to prove it before they do it. As for the Phillies catchers in Carlos Ruiz and Brain Schneider they will have the honor to catch for three of the game’s best pitchers in Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt. Ruiz is heading into camp already winning a World Series title in 2008, catching a perfect game during the regular season and a no-hitter in the postseason in 2010. What more can you ask for? Well last year he showed that he has become a lot better hitter and looking down toward the ball more.

As for Schneider he is a really good backup catcher, might be the best in the league. He is also a great player to come off the bench and pitch-hit for someone. Now the Phillies bullpen is what won them a World Series title in 2008 but after that they really haven't put those pieces back together. The Phillies still have closer Brad Lidge who in 2010 had a lot better year after having I don't know if you call it a down year in 2009 or whatever it was, it wasn't pretty to watch. Lidge had 27 saves last year and only 5 blowns saves in 2010, and having alright ERA at 2.96.

Then they have set-up man Ryan Madson who could be the next Phillies closer after Lidges contract is up in 2011. Madson is a guy who can throw from 92-97 MPH if he keeps his head in the game. Then they another set-up man in Jose Contreras who really proved himself to be a bullpen pitcher in 2010, when he was with the Rookies he was used as a starting pitcher. After him they have left handed pitcher J.C. Romero who really hasn't been that good in the last 2 years. But for some reason the Phillies see something in this guy that we don't and during the offseason they resigned him. Last guy is new member Kyle Kendrick, and I think this roll for him will fix him best. As a starter he has had his chances but just never really came through. He's good pitcher but only for about a few innings. The reason the Phillies haven't traded him is because they know if they need a starting pitching during the year he is the going to be the man they call on.




Now about the National League West and who else but the defending World Series Champions the San Francisco Giants. A team that just got hot at the right time and sometime that's just what you need to win a championship. But I would have to say their pitching helped them win a World Series title. The start of the 2010 season a lot people said watch out for the Giants because of how young their pitching was and still is with young Tim Lincecum, young Madison Bumgarner, young Matt Chain, and young Jonathan Sanchez.

All of these pitchers are in there early and late 20's. The oldest pitcher on this pitching staff is Barry Zito who is 32 years old. This is the youngest pitching staff in baseball and if they all stay together they could be seen more and more in the postseason and maybe once again in the World Series. As for their catchers they have Buster Poesy and Eli Whiteside. Posey as we know won the NL Rookie of the Year award and won a World Series title at the age of 23 in 2010 as a rookie. This kid is going to be one of the best catchers in the in the National League someday, if he not already. He has a lot power and he's pretty fast as a catcher. As for Whiteside there's not much that we know about him, he has been in the league for three years but has never really got a chance to play. I think in 2011 he will get more chances. The Giants bullpen proved to be one of the best in the NL with the best closer Brain Wilson leading the way. "Fear the Bread"

This guy has to be one of the scariest closers in the league. He throws a really good fast ball at 95-96 MPH and his off speed stuff is really good. Next is set-up man Sergio Romo who was a key pitcher for the Giants in the postseason. No one could touch him and that helped the Giants out a lot in the later innings. Then the Giants have Ramon Ramirez who is another good set-up man and is the guy they call on to in the 6th or 7th inning. Then they have Jeremy Affeldt who is a good strong pitcher to come in early in the ball game and shut down innings. He's not a bad guy to come in and help you save a few arms in the pen. Last is Javier Lopez who is a guy he isn't that bad of a pitcher and can work innings and come in for a half an inning or to face 2 batters.




Now over to American League East to the Boston Red Sox who I think have the best pitching staff in the AL. If they are able to stay healthy I think we could see them in the World Series again either to face the Philadelphia Phillies or the San Francisco Giants. Last year the Red Sox were picked

to win the AL East Division but they fell to a lot injured players on their team and after that they had no shot of making the postseason. But in 2011 they have high hopes again as they have the best starting five in the AL with Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Lester this year is picked to win the AL CY Young award as he was one of the runner ups for it in 2010. This team might even win over 100 games this year, but like I said this is a 162 games schedule and anything can happen. As for the Sox catchers they do have a few and veteran catcher Jason Varitck who is 38 years old who is near the end of his career. But Varitck is the captain and leader of this team and is the reason why the Sox have already two World Series titles in 2004 and 2007.

After him they have Jarrod Saltalamacchia who is most likely being their back-up catcher after losing Victor Martinez during the offseason. Saltalamacchia is going to have a lot more playing time this year. After him the Sox do have Mark Wangner who is another guy they don't really know much about. He could be a later call up in September this year. He has a lot to prove this year. Now the Red Sox bullpen could be the best in the AL after adding closer Bobby Jenks and set-up man Dan Wheeler. The Sox already have closer Jonathan Papelbon but had a really off year with a 3.90 ERA and 8 blown saves.

So I think they picked up Jenks just in case they need him to close a few games this. As for Wheeler he will used as the Sox set-up man to shut down late innings. Then they have Tim Wakefield who is known for his nasty knuckleball pitch. This guy has been around the league for many years and is often used as a starter. He is another one of those pitchers if the Sox need him to start a game they will call him to do so. Last guy is Hideki Okajima who is another one of those guys who can also be asked to start a few games if needed. He throws a lot of off speed stuff and is a good low ball pitcher out of the pen.




Now to the American League Central where I think the Minnesota Twins will finally get over that hump of the ALDS in the postseason. Their pitching isn't the best in the AL but I have picked them because they have showed even with not so great of a pitching staff they still find ways to win games and make it to the postseason. During the offseason they re-signed starting pitchers Carl Pavano, Francisco Liriano, and Kevin Slowey which is huge heading into the 2011 season. They also have Scott Backer and Nick Blackburn at the end of their rotation who are okay. Not great but they guys who can get the job done.

Pavano will most likely be the ace of this pitching staff heading into spring training and Liriano will be their number two guy to follow him up. The Twins catchers are Joe Mauer and Drew Butera, now we all know who Joe Mauer is, he is only one of the best catchers in baseball and is the heart and soul of this team being from Minnesota. As for Butera he just gets to sit back and learn from one the best. Last he has got to play a few games and didn't do that bad.

The Twins bullpen is also not the greatest but they have guys in the pen who know how to win and what it takes. They have two closer in Matt Capps who came over from the Nationals last year during the trade deadline and Joe Nathan who is recovering from Tommy John sugary a year ago. Capps really showed that he was one of the best closer and this year with a full season with the Twins he could maybe win the Closer of the Year award. Next is pitcher Randy Flores who will most likely be their set-up man who is an inning eater. He can be on mound for a good two or three innings. After him is Brain Duensing who is a young kid but not a bad arm to have in the pen, still has to improve a little bit but hey at least he's on the bullpen staff. Last is former Phillie Clay Condrey who hasn't pitched since 2009 and it's going to be curious to see how well he pitches after having a year off.




So I know that every team is reporting to camp but I have picked these four teams to be in this year’s National and American League Championship Series and for one of these National and American League teams to face one another in this year's World Series match up. These are the four best teams who look pretty good heading into spring training and it's only a matter of time to see if all four of these teams will prove right in 2011.