The On Deck Circle

By Jack Jablin

Right now on the ODC: You asked? You shall receive: our picks for Rookie of the Year and more! You didn't ask, you will still receive: our predictions for the divisional races!

Jack Jablin: You think they're ready?

Check the Stats: They'd better be, 'cause this freight train known as the ODC ain't stopping for them!

Jack Jablin: Just like the curse of Fred McGriff ending in Atlanta (not exactly the way the Braves hoped, eh?), the ODC's vow of silence is about to be broken. I am Jack Jablin, my sidekick is Check the Stats and you all are neither. The theme for tonight's ODC would have been "Say Anything (else)" by a band called "Cartel", but for legal reasons, let's just say that song is caught in my head and you should all go to Best Buy and buy it.... What did I just say? Go buy it already..

Check the Stats: Or don't! Perhaps instead you should revel in the return of the greatest typed up talk show that you'll ever see...read..

CATCHING UP:

Jack Jablin: Check the Stats, we start off in the world of Major League Baseball. Teixeira is DOWN, Soriano is UP, the Braves are OUT and the Sox are SICK and the Tigers are HEALTHY... What the hell is going on?

Check the Stats: Jack, we all know that it's been a strange year thus far, but not one that couldn't be plausably foreseen. Let's start with the teams: as much as Braves fans hate to hear it, they were doomed from the start of '05. Their great pitching coach - Leo Mazzone - has left, the Mets had a yankee like offseason with their wheeling and dealing and the Braves continued acts of indifference to free agents such as Rafeal Furcal seemingly doomed their chances.

Jack Jablin: Furcal of course landing with the Dodgers.

Check the Stats: Now the Red Sox also had a problem from the star --; their bullpen. With the exception of Mike Timlin at the beginning of the year, many of the pitchers were either young -- Delcarmen, Hansen -- had a sketchy rep -- Seanez -- or were injury prone like Keith Foulke. Jonathan Papelbon is the only one who can get through an inning without give up runs.

Jack Jablin: More on Papelbon later in our Q&A section..

Check the Stats: Let me just say that I think Craig Hansen will be a closer next year or possibly even in 2008.

Jack Jablin: Since he is struggling, I feel I have to ask: was Craig Hansen promoted too soon?

Check the Stats: I think that there was too many expectations, too soon. The organization was screaming "closer, closer" before he even cracked the 40-man roster. He will be good, he just needs time. Another thing that killed the Sox was sitting around at the deadline, not getting any pitching whatsoever hurt them, and helped the Yankees.

Jack Jablin: Ok, last question about the Bo-Sox. You're Theo Epstein and you only have time to persue one of two waiver trades, one for Todd Jones (closer for the Tigers) or one for Derrick Turnbow (struggling young reliever for the Brewers). Which would you go after and why?

Check the Stats: Jones. He hasn't had the struggles, and you already have a young closer in the works.. As a young player gets old he demands more money, where as certain players who are mediocre, or are not pursued by a NY team, don't demand as much and will settle for shorter contracts. In theory, if Jones needed to be resigned, it could be for less money and time than a young player like Turnbow.

Jack Jablin: Now, how about those Tigers? What's their story.

Check the Stats: The Tigers weren't a bomb dropped on baseball either, with a young staff that has tremendous major league experience to back 'em, it was only a matter of time before the team got it together; and with veterans like Pudge and Kenny Rogers, the young guys are feeling the winning ways.

Jack Jablin: Who drafted Justin Verlander in the YS.com fantasy league? Calling him "Sleeper of the century"?

Check the Stats: I believe it was you

Jack Jablin: It was meeee.. Yeah that sounds right. Do you think the Tiger's phenoms - Justin Verlander and Zach Miner - would be less spectacular if Pudge didn't catch them? Or is it more Jim Leyland? Or something else entirely?

Check the Stats: I believe it's the combination, the coaches know how to handle things, the veterans are doing their jobs and the young guys are stepping up.

Jack Jablin: Detroit's Zach Miner is not too different from the Mets' John Maine - short of the fact that Maine is currently the better pitcher... Speaking of John Maine and his New York Mets, the Mets are currently riding high - much to the laughter of Jeremy Roenick Hippy - in the NL East. Your thoughts on their longevity and their ability to play without Pedro or Glavine?

Check the Stats: Well since Glavine will only miss one or two starts, the Mets should be fine without him.. As for Pedro, Pedro always has this DL sit every year, and better for them to have it now than in late September. They have such a big lead that they could field the grounds crew this weekend if they so wanted to. But they need to remember to just keep doin what they are doin cause it doesn't get easier though I'd hate to think what the NL playoffs will be like; the only team at the moment that isn't the Mets that could do some damage is the Dodgers, but the whole NL West changes places every week like a Monty Python sketch.

To the NL!

Jack Jablin: What do you think about the Cardinals and the Reds? If they both end up in the playoffs, you don't think they can do damage?

Check the Stats: Possibly... I just think that they've both been so up and down that it is hard to say, they could have a huge run when the playoffs start or they could both tank in the NLDS. It's up in the air until they become solid playoff contenders.

Jack Jablin: Well, the Reds have finally found a suitable pitching staff to accomidate their nucleary offense, so I think they have some longevity. However, if Arroyo can't step back up to the mound and deliver, the Reds will have to count on Aaron Harang, Eric Milton, or even a younger pitcher like Elizardo Ramirez. I wonder how long they can survive like that?

Check the Stats: Well I think that if Arroyo can't step it back up against the more or less weak NL Central then the team will have problems because they need him to produce and just gettin 10 wins now when the race to 20 is nearing an end is not cutting it at all..

Jack Jablin: In fact, Arroyo only has one win in the past two months.

Check the Stats: And he is supposed to be the #1 or 2 on the rotation!

Jack Jablin: Alright, so, while the Reds are fighting to keep the Wild Card away from Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies (which I refer to in a similar way as I would to "Huey Lewis....... And the News") the Cardinals are in the middle of a series with the Mets - with the NL Central lead in the balance. What are your thoughts on the Cardinals' chances?

Check the Stats: Well genius, I can tell you what you already should know: it will be a knock down, drag out battle for the NL Central, and it just depends on who wins the important games. For instance, if the Cards lose to the Mets 2 out of 3, fine, but if they lose 2 out of 3 to say the Giants... That's when they are boned.

Back to the league of America

Jack Jablin: So we've covered the NL West (the Dodgers Vs Freak of the week), the NL Central (War, what is it good for?), the NL East (one word: Mets)... So now I've got a question for you.

Check the Stats: What's that, Jack?

Jack Jablin: The AL races are all pretty much down to two teams: In the AL West it's either Oakland or the Angels, in the AL Central it's the Tigers (or the Chi-Sox pulling up the rear) and in the AL East... What is it always? Sox Vs Yanks. Which teams have the advantage in their respective race, which teams have it all locked up, and which teams should give up now?

Check the Stats: Ohhhh where to start, where to start... How about our respective coast?

Jack Jablin: Eyyy.... ELLLLL.... West (west west west wesssst...)

Check the Stats: A's and Angels: they both start with an A, they are both located in that bastard bay area near the more prosperous, and yet so much differs between the two.

Jack Jablin: One's from the land of Oak, one's from the land of the Mighty Ducks.

Check the Stats: ...Right. Anyway, the A's have an offense that contains some key players who can light up the ball - the big hurt, Milton Bradley, Nick Swisher, and Jay Payton - and their pitching is getting the job done. The 'pen is nothing special, but their closer is filthy (when he's healthy).

Jack Jablin: And they'll be getting young stud Rich Harden back, shortly.

Check the Stats: Which will add another fantastic arm to an already fairly potent rotation.

Jack Jablin: Couldn't agree more, Harden is a phenom.

Check the Stats: Now the Angels have more structure around pitching, Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana two young guys who can throw gas. However the offense sometimes would rather phone it in, with Vlad "I'll hit anything in the general area of the plate" Guerrero being the center piece of the offense with some support from Chone Figgins and Juan Rivera

Jack Jablin: I couldn't agree more with what you say about the Angels and their youthful rotation; but what's more spectacular is how well Angels veteran John Lackey is pitching! In his last two months he's 5-4 with 69 K's and only 23 earned runs allowed. With pitching like that, it's amazing the Angels are a mere 67-60..

Check the Stats: It's called the residual Jeff Weaver effect..

Jack Jablin: Yeah, well, while you may have solved that mystery, there's still a question that nobody can answer: Vlad Guerrero. I still can't see how Vlad continues to be so hardcore; with the way he swings, he should strike out every time. Fortunately, he's got a reach like Tyson, and because of that he can do anything to any pitch, leading the Angels back into the AL West chase. Frightening, isn't he?

Check the Stats: Not as frightening as the AL Central, where there are three hungry dogs... Four if the Twins really do count as two.

Jack Jablin: They don't.

Check the Stats: Regardless. With Francisco Liriano out what are the chances that the Twins can regroup and make a push?

Jack Jablin: Well, to me that's a very complicated question. The Twins claim that if Liriano feels ANY pain during his rehab, he will be deactivated for the remainder of 2006 - a move I respect. If Liriano comes back, the Twins will more than likely have about half a month to catch up to the Tigers and/or White Sox, which pretty much comes down to how far back they are at that point in time.

Check the Stats: I believe that if the Tigers continue to win consistantly then it will put the Twins outta any division chance, so there's my theory on that.

Jack Jablin: At this point, the Twin have one great picher (Johan), one decent pitcher (Radke) and a handful of guys who really do not belong so high up in the rotation - Carlos Silva and Matt Garza. With those pitchers, you can expect MAYBE two wins per turn in the rotation (possibly two of four wins every time the rotation goes about). In my opinion, the Minnesota Twins do not have the type of offense that can truly keep a team alive by itself.

Check the Stats: You don't think?

Jack Jablin: Short of Joe Mauer (who has been cold), Justin Morneau or Jason Bartlett, who do the Twins have?

Check the Stats: Michael Cuddyer has shown some spark, but aside from that, nothing special.

Jack Jablin: Well, be that as it may: I don't think the Twins have a shot at the playoffs. If they can't beat the White Sox or Twins in the AL Central, they aren't taking the Wild Card from either of them, to say the least.

Check the Stats: As far as the wild card is concerned, it depends on two teams -- the Red Sox and the White Sox. If the BoSox can't get their pitching in place then they might be SOL, while the White Sox struggle in the same department. I think the Twins have a chance.

Babbling about the AL East:

Jack Jablin: Alright, lastly... Where are we at in the AL East? It's down to the Sox and the Yanks - both of which are having pitching struggles, amplified further by New York's recent loss of backbone starter Mike Mussina. Who's going to take this division?

Check the Stats: Well, if the Sox can do more of what they did today, winning a close game, then I can see them taking the division from the Yanks.. However, Josh Beckett needs to find his groove and Curt Schilling needs to win the games he starts (and not leave it to the bullpent). On top of it all, the bullpen needs to stop losing the game that the starters had gift wrapped for them (I'm talking to you Papelbon).

Jack Jablin: So, are you with me when I say that "Boston Massacre 2" has no real bearing on the end of the season? There's almost a month and a half remaining in the season, nothing's over just yet.

Check the Stats: I'd say this is a huge exaggeration by fans who think that because we got swept by the Yanks that it's the end of the world, I remember the last time we took a really bad beating from them during the regular season, I believe it was 2004 and we were almost 10 games out, but we stormed back and guess what happened, we won the world series that year, how 'bout that?

Jack Jablin: Yeah, but I wonder if the Sox didn't make a deal with the devil to do it. They're certainly seeming more and more like what they "despise" in recent years.. That aside, I agree, the season isn't over until the final strike is called (or Ortiz's bat touches the ball). Last call: Who takes the division? Boston or New York?

Check the Stats: I say if the Sox get their pitching together they win it, if not the Yanks steal it again.

You write, we respond!

Jack Jablin: Alright, that does it for Q&A. We've got a LOT of questions in my mailbox (since our last ODC), so I'll go with only our latest one.

Check the Stats: sounds good

Jack Jablin: Our latest was just over a week ago, from some duder named asfdmoasmfoasofm, hell, I don't know, some random keyboard babble.

Check the Stats: I HAVE HAD IT WITH THESE MOTHER F***ING NERDS ON THIS MOTHER ****ING Q&A SEGMENT!

Jack Jablin: Anyway, the question is as follows: "whats up jack? i dunno when you and stats are throwing out a new on deck circle but im wondering if you can answer this question real quick. who do you think deserves the rookie of the year awards"

Check the Stats: Interesting question indeed... My vote for the AL is Jonathan Papelbon. Now, hear me out on this one, he stepped up in a pen filled with question mark and out of his regular role to a closer and has done it almost flawlessly all year.

Jack Jablin: And National League?

Check the Stats: Ryan Howard. He should win it AGAIN... Have you been watching him this year? Seriously though, I'm gonna go with former Red Sox prospect, current Marlin star Hanley Ramirez.

Jack Jablin: Right on, that works on a few levels, but not for me. For me, three names come to mind when I think NL rookie of the year: Arizona's Conor Jackson, Milwaukee's Prince Fielder and the Dodger's Andre Ethier. Sadly, I feel that CoJack simply hasn't put up the numbers he should have (like Jackson's team mate and future all-star, Carlos Quentin) if he wanted to win ROY, and while Fielder is the man who has had the most face time and HAS the most power of this year's rookie crop, he hasn't been nuclear either. Andre Ethier, despite all of ten people knowing his name, has been everything a great rookie should be: consistant (.338 average). Andre Ethier is my easy NL pick, without him the Dodgers aren't in first place at this point in the season.

Check the Stats: Cool deal.

Jack Jablin: As for the AL... Justin Verlander, no doubt, no question, no thought involved. Weaver debuted too late, Liriano didn't last, Papelbon hasn't been "on" since the All-Star break, and Ian Kinsler has been feeling the pain all season. Even if Kinsler had played well all year, I don't think any rookie could match the worth of Verlander's AL-leading 15 wins, 3.05 ERA and century amount of K's... Joel Zumaya's no rookie pitcher to shake your head at, either. Verlander takes the AL Rookie of the Year with a heated contest insuing at the end. Perhaps a Cy Young nomination is in Verlander's future, as well?

Check the Stats: It should be an interesting battle.

Jack Jablin: Alright, well that does it for now. The ODC is back and sadly, so are the Yankees. Rock on and Rock out, this has been Jack Jablin.

Check the Stats: And this is CTS, good night ya knuckle-heads.

Drop your questions to JJablinYS@hotmail.com

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