2012 PREVIEW

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2012

RED SOX SHOULD COMPETE FOR TOP SPOT IN A.L. EAST

BOSTON - DESPITE LOSING A FUTURE HALL-OF-FAMER AND A 15-GAME WINNER FROM 2011, A COUPLE OF SCOUTS SAY THE RED SOX CAN CERTAINLY WIN THEIR DIVISION AND MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.

PERENNIAL ALL-STAR ALEX RODRIGUEZ AND PITCHER JUSTIN DUCHSHERER BOTH RETIRED, BUT THE PAIR OF SCOUTS, ONE FROM EACH LEAGUE, SAY BOSTON HAS TO REMAIN CONSISTENT AND FOCUSED IN A DIVISION THAT SEEMS UP FOR GRABS.

"THEY HAD A STRONG AUGUST (18-11) LAST SEASON TO GET BACK INTO CONTENTION, THE A.L. SCOUT SAID. "THEN THEY GOT A BIT TOO ANXIOUS IN MID-SEPTEMBER, OVERWORKING DUCHSHERER AND TOSSING TOO MANY INEXPERIENCED RELEIVERS INTO THE MIX."

BOSTON FALTERED OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF THE SEASON AND ENDED UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DIVISION, WHICH TAMPA BAY CAPTURED WITH A 84-78 MARK.

"THEY WERE AT .500 ALMOST A QUARTER A WAY THROUGH THE SEASON, THEN  COULDN'T EVER REALLY NEAR THAT MARK AGAIN UNTIL AUGUST," SAID THE N.L. SCOUT. "BOSTON NEEDS TO PIECE TOGETHER SOME STRETCHES OF THREE- AND FOUR-GAME WINNING STREAKS."

THE SCOUTS BROKE DOWN INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS BY POSITION:

STARTING PITCHING

"NICK VOGEL IS YOUNG (22) AND ONLY GOING TO IMPROVE (9-9, 3.33 ERA LAST SEASON.) HE HAS 'ACE' POTENTIAL. JUSTIN MASTERSON (6-FOOT-6, 250-POUNDS) HAS THE BODY TO BECOME A TOP STARTER"

MASTERSON DROPPED TO 6-12 OVERALL AFTER COMING OVER IN A TRADE, DOWN FROM A 12-9, 3.44 ERA IN 2010, WITH HIS ERA BOUNCING ALMOST A RUN HIGHER.

"I CERTAINLY QUESTIONED THE SIGNING OF JO-JO REYES TO A FIVE-YEAR DEAL, CONSIDERING HIS LAST APPEARANCE IN THE MAJORS WAS IN 2009, BUT HE SHOWED PLENTY OF PROMISE IN THE SPRING AND IS ONLY 27 WITH GOOD SIZE (6-2, 230)."

REYES HAS A CAREER MARK OF 5-15 AND A HEALTHY 6.09 ERA, BUT IS BOSTON'S NO. 3 STARTER.

"THAT JUST SHOWS YOU THE OVERVALUE LEFT-HANDERS ARE GIVEN IN THE A.L."

ANOTHER FREE AGENT SIGNEE, DAVID HERNANDEZ, IS THE FOURTH STARTER.


FINALLY, LEFTY COY BARROW'S EXHIBITION WORK TOOK THE FIFTH-STARTER JOB AWAY FROM FELLOW SOUTHPAW RICH BROCK

BULLPEN

THE STRENGTH OF THE TEAM LAST SEASON, FROM LONG RELIEVER BRYON RAGLAND TO CLOSER BRANDON LYON.

"RAGLAND REALLY WAS THE GLUE THAT  HELD BOSTON SO LONG," SAID THE A.L SCOUT. "HE HAS A GREAT MIND-SET: HE BELIEVES IF HE CAN SHUT DOWN THE OPPONENT HIS OFFENSE WILL GET THEM BACK IN THE GAME."

THAT WORKED ENOUGH FOR RAGLAND TO WIN HIS FIRST 10 DECISIONS, WITH HIS ONLY DEFEAT COMING IN SEPTEMBER.

LYON WAS ACQUIRED IN AN EARLY-SEASON TRADE AND SAW HIS ERA TRIPLE WHILE WITH THE RED SOX, BUT STILL SAVED 44 GAMES.

CATCHER

"TO SAY IT'S A JUMBLED POSITION WOULD BE A HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT," THE N.L. SAID. "THEY ALL HAVE PLENTY OF STRENGTHS AND PLENTY OF WEAKNESSES."

GARTH THARP AND ENRIQUE BENIQUEZ START THE SEASON WITH MARK KINCAID, JUST 20, WAITING FOR A CHANCE - AT CATCHER OR FIRST BASE.

FIRST BASE

BOTH SCOUTS SAID THE CONSENSUS ON PRINCE FIELDER IS NOT GOOD AFTER A FAIRLY DISMAL EXHIBITION SEASON THAT HAS LED MANAGER DOMINGO GOULD TO DROP FIELDER TO SIXTH IN THE ORDER AGAINST RIGHTIES AND LEFTIES.

"HE SEEMED TO AGE CONSIDERABLY IN THE OFFSEASON, ADDING WEIGHT, LOSING WHAT RUNNING SPEED HE HAD AND HIS BAT HAS SLOWED CONSIDERABLY," THE N.L.SCOUT SAID. "BOSTON MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PEDDLE HIM TWO WEEKS INTO MARCH, BUT NOBODY'S GONNA TOUCH HIM NOW."

FIELDER COMES OFF A 284, 35, 112 SEASON, SO THE A.L. SCOUT SAYS ALL IS NOT LOST.

"PERSONALLY, I THINK HE'LL SNAP OUT OF IT," HE SAID. "HE FACES MOSTLY RIGHTIES IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE, AND WENT TO MORE OF A "CONTROLLED" SWING ABOUT 50 GAMES INTO LAST SEASON. FIELDER JUST NEEDS TO GET THAT WRIST SNAP BACK, AND HE'LL START GETTING THE BALL IN PLAY MORE."

SECOND BASE

INCUMBENT HUNTER QUEEN MOVES TO THIRD TO REPLACE RODRIGUEZ, AFTER PLAYING THE MAJORITY OF HIS GAMES AT SECOND IN 2011.

"HE'S STILL GROWING INTO HIS POWER (JUST THREE HOMERS LAST SEASON)," THE N.L. SCOUT SAID, ADDING SECOND BASEMAN ARIEL CLOUD (,JUST 31 ML AT-BATS IN 2011) HAS THE NECESSARY POWER TO PLAY THE HOT CORNER, BUT HIS GLOVE IS BETTER SUITED TO THE MIDDLE INFIELD.

"IF CLOUD CAN STAY HEALTHY, HE HAS A BREAKOUT SEASON COMING AND QUEEN SHOULD IMPROVE EACH DAY," THE SCOUT SAID. "WHEN HE OPENS HIS HIPS, HE CAN REALLY TURN ON THE BALL AND DRIVE IT PAST THE THIRD BASEMAN."

SHORTSTOP

STEPHEN DREW CAME TO BOSTON IN A MID-SEASON DEAL - AND PERFORMED VERY WELL, THE NL SCOUT SAID.

DREW FINISHED WITH 21 HOMERS, 81 RBIs AND A .287, FLOURISHING IN THE TWO HOLE IN HE BATTING ORDER.

"HIS ABILITY TO POUND THE BALL OFF - AND OVER - THE 'GREEN MONSTER' WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THEIR OFFENSE," THE N.L. SCOUT SAID.


SECOND BASE

CLOUD WAS ACQUIRED IN A TRADE AND IMPRESSED BEFORE TEARING UP HIS KNEE AND GOING ON THE DL WITH THE SEASON-ENDING INJURY.

"HE'S A PURE HITTING TALENT," THE A.L. SCOUT SAID. "AND HE'S BEEN HITTING NINTH."



LEFT FIELD

RYAN BRAUN MAN'S THE SPOT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, BOTH SCOUTS AGREED


CENTER FIELD

ANDREW McCUTCHEN WON THE A.L. SILVER SLUGGER AWARD LAST YEAR, AFTER POSTING  .323, 25, 83 NUMBERS  IN JUST 492 AT-BATS.

"HE HIT ANYWHERE FROM LEADOFF TO FIFTH IN THE LINEUP," THE A.L. SCOUT SAID. "HE'S THE REAL DEAL AND A FIVE-TOOL TALENT."

THE EMERGENCE OF HOSEA SPIVEY  IN THE SPRING WILL ALLOW McCUTCHEN SOME REST BY SLOTTING INTO DESIGNATED HITTER.

"SPIVEY WAS HITTING OVER .600 FOR QUITE SOME TIME THIS SPRING," SAID THE N.L. SCOUT. "IF HE SLOWS DOWN, THERE'S STRENGTH ON THE FARM."

RIGHT FIELDER

DARIUS OLIVER CAME UP FROM THE MINORS  AND STAYED IN THE LINEUP MOST OF THE REST OF THE SEASON, GETTING 219 ABs WITH SEVEN HRs AND 23 RBIs. HE SIGNED A FOUR-YEAR DEAL IN THE OFFSEASON.

BENCH

ALFONSO DEAL, 20, SPENT MUCH OF THE SEASON IN THE MAJORS AS A BACKUP SS WHO HAS LEARNED ALL THREE OUTFIELD POSITIONS. CF HILARIO CAVAZOS EARNED A SPOT WITH A STRONG SPRING. CHESTER McGILL OFFERS INFIELD COVER.

PREDICTIONS

THE NL SCOUT FORESAW 85-88 WINS WHILE THE AL SCOUT PEGGED BOSTON GOING 91-71.

THE KEY
DARIUS OLIVER

"HE'S NOT THE BIGGEST OF PLAYERS (5-8, 161)," THE A.L. SCOUT SAID. "BUT HE'S GOT AN ABUNDANCE OF STRENGTH AND SPEED."

COACHING STAFF FINALIZED

JAN. 28, 2012

ALL GET THREE-YEAR CONTRACTS

BOSTON - NEW RED SOX HITTING COACH BERTRAM HARRIS COMPLETED THE COACHING STAFF FOR 2012 BY SIGNING A CONTRACT THURSDAY.

HE JOINS MANAGER DOMINGO GOULD, HOLDOVER PITCHING COACH RENALDO CHAPPELL, WHO IS IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT, FIRST-BASE COACH TUAN MUNOZ, THIRD-BASE COACH HORACE NORRIS AND FARM DIRECTOR EDMONDO ASH.

DUCHSHERER CALLS IT QUITS, TOO

JAN. 14, 2012

15-GAME WINNER LEAVES RED SOX

JETER ALSO RETIRES

BOSTON - THE QUESTION MARKS CONTINUE DURING THE OFF-SEASON FOR THE RED SOX.

15-GAME WINNER JASON DUCHSHERER RETIRED ABRUPTLY TUESDAY, THE SAME DAY FORMER RED SOX SHORTSTOP DEREK JETER GAVE UP THE GAME, JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER BOSTON LOST ALEX RODRIGUEZ TO RETIREMENT.

"IT'S SIMPLE: MY ARM HURTS AND THE REST OF ME DOESN'T FEEL THAT GREAT EITHER," SAID DUCHSHERER, WHO WAS USED EXTENSIVELY IN EARLY AND MID-SEPTEMBER LAST SEASON IN EFFORT TO KEEP THE RED SOX IN CONTENTION FOR THE AL EAST TITLE.

JETER RETIRED AT A NEW YORK PRES CONFERENCE, FUELING SPECULATION HE WOULD BE SOON REPLACING JOE GIRARDI AS THE YANKEES' MANAGER.

"THAT'S THE FIRST I JHAVE HEARD OF THAT," JETER SAID. "I AVE ALREADY MOVED MY FAMILY TO CALIFORNIA AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A TELEVISION PILOT FOR TWO MONTHS NOW."

OTHER RETIREES INCLUDE:
JIM THOME, JARROD WSBURN, ORLANDO CABRERA, DAN WHEELER AND A.J. PIERZYNSKI.

MAJORITY OF COACHING STAFF AXED

LONE SURVIVOR WILL BE
SURROUNDED BY NEW CAST IN 2012

BOSTON - JUST A WEEK AFTER ICON ALEX RODRIGUEZ ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT, MOST OF THE 2011 COACHING STAFF WAS FIRED. PITCHING COACH RENALDO CHAPPELL WAS THE LONE SURVIVOR.

AROD: IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON

NOV. 5, 2011

THIRD BASEMAN STUNS
BASEBALL WORLD BY RETIRING
TWO CONSECUTIVE 40-PLUS HR SEASONS NOT ENOUGH TO EASE DAILY GRIND

BOSTON - DON'T FEIGN SURPRISE IN 2012 IF THE "B" ON THE HATS OF RED SOX PLAYERS IS REPLACED BY "?"

AS IN WHO WILL REPLACE FUTURE HALL-OF-FAMER ALEX RODRIGUEZ, WHO ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FOUR DAYS AFTER THE ANGELS TOPPED THE DODGERS FOUR GAMES TO THREE IN THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE NAIL-BITING WORLD SERIES THAT HAS RE-ENERGIZED MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

"IT SIMPLY WAS TIME," SAID THE 36-YEAR-OLD RODRIGUEZ, WHO BYPASSES THE REMAINING SIX YEARS OF A CONTRACT THAT WOULD END UP PAYING HIM A WHOPPING $140 MILLION. "I LOVED IT HERE IN BOSTON - AS I KNEW I WOULD - DESPITE COMING OVER FROM THOSE 'DREADED' YANKEES."

IN THE 2010 MLB FANTASY DRAFT, THE RED SOX BECAME WIDELY KNOWN AS THE BOSTON YANKEES AFTER PICKING EX-NEW YORKERS RODRIGUEZ, DEREK JETER, MARIANO RIVERA AND JORGE POSADA WEITH FOUR OF ITS FIRST FIVE PICKS.

FORMER GENERAL MANAGER TED ESPINOSA SAID AT THE TIME, "IT JUST WORKED OUT THAT WAY - WE DRAFTED THE BEST AVAILABLE PLAYERS AT KEY POSITIONS. IT JUST SO HAPPENED THEY WERE YANKEES.

BUT AROD WAS THE ONLY REMAINING DRAFT CHOICE AFTER THE OTHERS WERE DEALT IN 2010.

BOSTON USED AN 18-11 RECORD IN AUGUST TO SPRINGBOARD THEMSELVES BACK INTO CONTENTION FOR THE 2011 AL EAST CROWN, BUT A MID-SEPTEMBER SWOON FOUND BOSTON RELEGATED TO LAST PLACE.

"MOST PLAYERS WILL TELL YOU THAT THE DAILY GRIND CAN GET TO YOU MENTALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY," AROD SAID. "IT'S MY TIME TO GO A NEW DIRECTION."

RODRIGUEZ WOULD GIVE NO CLUES AS TO HIS FUTURE PLANS - AND WAS GIVEN A STANDING OVATION BY THE PRESS AS HE LEFT THE PODIUM.

2011 WORLD SERIES RECAP

ANGELS (7-2) VS.  DODGERS (7-3)

GAME ONE
10-22-11

ANAHEIM - A COUPLE OF SURPRISE STARTERS OPENED THE "LALA LAND" WORLD SERIES - AND THE MOST EXPERIENCED HURLER TOOK ONE ON THE CHIN.

THE ANGELS' KYLE DAVIES, 2-0 WITH A 1.93 ERA IN THE PLAYOFFS, TOOK THE MOUND OVER SCHEDULED STARTER SCOTT BAKER - AND MORE LIKELY STARTER JAVIER VAZQUEZ - AND PROCEEDED TO COUGH UP ALL THE RUNS THE DODGERS WOULD NEED IN THE OPENING INNING.

TRAVIS SNIDER ROCKED DAVIES WITH A THREE-RUN BLAST AS THE DODGERS CRUISED TO A 10-3 WIN AND A 1-0 SERIES LEAD.

WHILE ANGEL MANAGER MIKE SCIOSCIA KEPT HIS STARTER A SECRET UNTIL A FEW HOURS BEFORE GAME TIME, HIS DODGERS COUNTERPART BOBBY VALENTINE HAD NO QUALMS STARTING JOURNEYMAN NELSON FIGUEROA, WHO HAD LASTED JUST FOUR INNINGS IN HIS ONLY PREVIOUS 2011 PLAYOFF START.

FIGUEROA DOUBLED UP WITH EIGHT STRONG INNINGS, GIVING UP JUST A PAIR OF RUNS ON SEVEN HITS.

A TWO-RBI HIT BY LASTINGS MILLEDGE GAVE FIGUEROA A 5-0 CUSHION IN THE TOP OF THE THIRD BEFORE THE ANGELS SCORED THEIR RUNS ON BACK-TO-BACK DOUBLES BY MIGUEL MONTERO AND RYAN ROBERTS.

SNIDER THEN CAPPED OFF HIS 5-RBI NIGHT IN THE FOURTH WITH A TWO-RUN SINGLE AND THE ANGELS WOULS ADD SOLO RUNS IN THR FIFTH, EIGHTH AND NINTH INNINGS.

DAVIES LASTED JUST 2 2/3 INNINGS, GIVING UP FIVE RUNS ON SEVEN OF THE DODGERS' 16 HITS.

GAME TWO
10-24-11

ANAHEIM - TRAVIS SNIDER WAS AT IT AGAIN FOR THE DODGERS, BUT THIS TIME THE ANGELS WERE ABLE TO COUNTER.

AFTER KNOCKING A THREE-RUN, FIRST-INNING HOMER IN THE OPENING GAME THAT ACCOUNTED FOR ALL THE NEEDED ANGEL RUNS IN A 10-2 WIN, SNYDER RIPPED A TWO-RUN DOUBLE TO OPEN UP A 2-0 LEAD IN THE TOP OF THE INITIAL FRAME MONDAY NIGHT.

THE ANGELS ANSWERED BACK SHORTLY TO MAKE IT 2-2, THEN THE DODGERS MADE IT 4-2 BEFORE TWO MORE ANAHEIM RUNS TIED IT AT 4.

CHRIS DAVIS UNTIED IT WITH AN RBI-DOUBLE TO EVEN THE SERIES AT A GAME APIECE.

GAME THREE
10-25-11

LOS ANGELES - UNHERALDED DAVE BUSH CONTINUED HIS STRONG PITCHING, STSRIKING OUT 13 HITTERS IN SIX INNINGS TO HELP THE DODGERS POST A 5-3 WORLD SERIES WIN OVER THE ANGELS.

THE DODGERS LEAD THE "LALA LAND" CHAMPIONSHIP TWO GAMES TO ONE. FRANK FRANCISCO, WITH 55 REGULAR SEASON SAVES, PICKED UP HIS FOURTH IN POSTSEASON PLAY.

SCOTT BAKER TOOK THE LOSS FOR THE ANGELS, WHO FELL TO 8-4 OVERALL IN THE PLAYOFFS WHILE THE DODGERS IMPROVED TO 9-4.

EVAN LONGORIA POWERED THE DODGERS AT THE PLATE, GOING THREE-FOR-FOUR WITH A HOME RUN.



GAME FOUR
THE ANGELS KNOTTED THE SERIES AT 2-2 WITH A 9-7 WIN.

GAME FIVE

LOS ANGELES - DESTINY FOR THE DODGERS IS ONE GAME AWAY.

A THREE-RUN DOUBLE BY LASTINGS MILLEDGE HELPED POWER HELPED POWER LOS ANGELES TO A 9-2 WIN AND A 3-2 WORLD SERIES LEAD OVER THE ANGELS.

GAME SIX
10-29-11

ANAHEIM - DESTINY WAS NOT TO BE FOR THE DODGERS.

ANGELS PITCHER JAVIER VAZQUEZ IMPROVED TO 3-0 IN THE POSTSEASON, GOING 8 1/3 STRONG INNINGS AS ANAHEIM POSTED A 6-1 WIN TO TIE THE WORLD SERIES AT THREE GAMES APIECE.

10-30-11
ANAHEIM - IF NOT FOR A TORRENTIAL DELUGE, THE ANGELS MAY HAVE WOKEN UP THIS MORNING TO FIND THEMSELVES KINGS OF THE WORLD.

AS IT HAPPENED, AN EARLY 3-0 LEAD WAS WASHED AWAY, AS GAME SEVEN WAS POSTPONED AFTER A 53-MINUTE RAIN DELAY - AND IT POURED STEADILY THEREAFTER FOR HOURS.

11-1-11
ANAHEIM - MOTHER NATURE HAS A NEW FRIEND FOR LIFE IN ANGELS PITCHER JAVIER VAZQUEZ.

TWO DAYS AFTER PITCHING MORE THAN EIGHT INNINGS IN AN ANGELS GAME SIX WIN, VAZQUEZ NEARLY WENT THE DISTANCE IN GAME SEVEN, TOSSING 7 2/3 SHUTOUT INNINGS AS ANAHEIM EDGED THE DODGERS 1-0 IN A TENSE THRILLER THAT MADE THE ANGELS WORLD SERIES CHAMPS.

GUTTY NELSON FIGUROA ALLOWED THE FIFTH-INNING RUN SCORED BY ALEXEI RAMIREZ IN GOING EIGHT INNINGS, GIVING UP FIVE HITS AND STRIKING OUT 10,

VAZQUEZ ONE-UPPED HIM, HOWEVER, ALLOWING SIX HITS WITH NINE STRIKEOUTS WHILE NOT ALLOWING A RUN. CLOSER BRIAN WILSON PICKED UP HIS FIFTH POSTSEASON SAVE A BIT UNEASILY, ALLOWING A PAIR OF NINTH INNING HITS, BUT STRIKING OUT THE SIDE TO GIVE THE ANGELS THE WORLD SERIES WIN.

2011 PLAYOFF STATS

DODGERS

NAME                             GP   AVG   AB  H  R   HR   RBI  SB
LONGORIA                     9    .424      33  14 10   4      11     0
PODSEDNIK                   6    .400       5    2    0    0      2      0
MARQUIS                        2    .333      6    2    0    0      1      0
MILLEDGE                      9     .290     31   9    5    0      7      5
SNIDER                           9     .258     31   8    6    0      2      0
WEEKS                            9     .250    32   8    4     1      4     1
MORNEAU                     9     .229    35    8    6     3     7      0
CABRERA                       9     .216    37    8    4     1     2      1
BOURN                           9     .205    39    8    5     0     0      6

TEAM                               9     .258   299  77  41    9     41   13

PITCHING                       W   I   ERA  QS  SV  BSV  H  IP  H  HR  BB  XO
TEAM                               7    2  2.81    5      5      0    7   80  75  7     22   54


ANGELS
PLAYER                   GP     AB   AVG  H  R   HR  RBI  SB
THAMES                   1       1     1.000   1   0     0   1         0
C DAVIS                   10     36     .306   11  10   4    9        0
GOMES                     3       7      .286    2   0     0    1        1
A RAMIREZ             10      36    .278    10  4    0    8        0
QUENTIN                10      40    .275    11   6    1    6       0
HART                       10      42    .262    11   4    0     2       1
SCUTARO               10      35    .257     9    4    2    8        0
B ROBERTS              4      12     .250     3   2     0    0       1
KEMP                      10      38     .237     9   6     1     1      3
E CHAVEZ                7      27     .222     6    2     1    4      0
MONYERO             10     38     .211      8    5     0    5      0

TEAM                      10    346    .243      84  46   9   46     6\

PITCHING              W   L    ERA  GS QS  SV BSV HD  IP  H  HR  BB K
TEAM                      7    3     2.83   10   5     3    2      2    92  78  9     29  76

2011 RED SOX STATS

NAME                 G     AB     AVG    H   R       2B   HR RBI  SB
FIELDER           159  619   .284      176  100    31   36  112    0
BRAUN             152  601   .268      161  71      32   25   82     10
AROD               152   598   .318      190  111    43   46 133    14
DREW               140   534   .287      153  75      27   21   81     2
QUEEN             124   438   .276      121  30      17     3   49     1
McCUTCHEN  117   492   .323      159   94      40    25  83  18
HINOJOSA        81    292  .288       84    24      12     7   42     8
OLIVER              64   219   .269       59   25       14    7   23     10
THARP                52  170    .218       37   24       7      3   12     1
KINCAID           40    133   .256       34  13        7      1    9      5
JARAMILLO      36    108   .250       27   17        3     2    9      1
ENRIQUEZ         32    97     .206       20   7         5      1    6      3
SPIVEY              30    101   .228       23    9         4      0    6      1
CARLIN             27     92     .217       20   9         2      0     2     0
DEAL                  22    53     .283        15   6         1      1     1     0

TEAM                                  .263     1518 721     296 181 714 83


NAME                  GP  W  L  ERA   GS  QS  SV  H  IP  H  BB  SO
BUCHOLZ           89   5   8  3.10                    2   25 104 95 42  77
SMITH                 82   6   4   2.98                   1   12  121 106 45 113
MONTALVO      67    6  5   3.50                    3   11  80  89   38  50
MJARES             60    5  3   4.11                     1   12  72 68    24  55
LYON                  59    1  2   3.05                   44   2   56 47  18  42
RAGLAND          58   10  0   3.61                   1    4   102 99  47  48
HUDSON             53   2   0   4.12                   1   14  63 70    19    55
DUCHSHERER    35  15  10 4.31   34 17                202  206  86  151                                                                                   
VOGEL                 34   9  9    3.33   33   13              173 160   63  183
LIRIANO             33    8  11  4.74   32    9               161 179   66  147
DENNISON         11   3   2  4.02    11    0                47   54    21  17
BROCK                4     1  1  7.50     2     0                 6     7      6     5

TEAM                                    4.45          44   49  85  1466 1546 591 1146

20 BSV

2011 RECAP

AL EAST
TB  87-75 ---
NYY 85-77  2
TOR 79-83 8
BAL 78-84 9
BOS 78-84 9

AL CENTRAL
DET 83-79 ---
MIN 71-91 12
KC 71-91 12
CHI 69-93 14
CLE 66-96 17

AL WEST
SEA 98-64 ---
TEX 97-65 1
OAK 96-66 2
TEX 87-75 11

NL EAST
WASH 87-75 ---
FLA   81-81  6
ATL 81-81   6
NYM 79-83  8
PHIL 75 87   12

NL CENTRAL
CIN 90-72 ---
STL 82-80  8
MIL 77-85 13
PIT 71-91 19
CHI 70-92 20
HOU 68-94 22

NL WEST
LAD 94-68 ---
SD 89-73  5
ARI 85-77  9
COL 82-80  12
SF 74-88  20

                         
PLAYOFF BRACKETS

SEA  1
DET   3

                                       LAA 4
                                       DET 1
TB  2
LAA 3



LAD    3
WASH  0

                                      .LAD 4
                                       CIN 2

CIN   3
SD    0


AL MVP
M REYNOLDS MIN  .284 54 131

NL MVP
R HOWARD SD   .301 51 121

AL CY YOUNG
Z GREINKE OAK  3.06 20-6  209

NL CY YOUNG
C BILLINGSLEY LAD  2.53  18-7  193

AL SILVER SLUGGER
A McCUTCHEN BOS  .323  25  83

NL SILVER SLUGGER
C BELTRAN PHI  .338  32  98

AL ROLAIDS RP
SORIA  TB  2.81 0  47

NL ROLAIDS RP
F FRANCISCO LAD 3.18  0 55

AL ROY
I COYLE NYY  .298  14  73

NL ROY
R SUTHERLAND SD  .282  15  51

AL HANK AARON
A RODRIGUEZ  BOS  . 318  46  133

NL HANK AARON
BELTRAN

LEAGUE LEADERS

AL AVG
McCUTCHEN BOS  . 323
A RODRIGUEZ  BOS .318
T HELTON SEA          . 317

NL AVG
C BELTRAN PHIL        .338
A PUJOLS ATL             .319
J LONEY CIN               .313

AL HITS
HELTON      195
SANDOVAL SEA 195
VICTORINO DET  192
H RAMIREZ CLE  192

NL HITS
A PUJOLS              199
C BELTRAN           193
R HOWARD            188

AL 2B
H RAMIREZ             56
S VICTORINO         56
C CRAWFORD TEX  41

NL 2B
P POLANCO ARI      49
CA. LEE HOU            46
C BELTRAN              46

AL 3B
C CRAWFORD           10
G SIZEMORE  TOR     10

NL 3B
C COGHLAN   SD      10
C FIGGINS       STL    10

AL HR
M REYNOLDS             54
A RODRIGUEZ             46
R BRANYAN TOR        41
R ZIMMERMAN TB      41

NL HR
R HOWARD                   51
E LONGORIA LAD        46
PUJOLS                          42

AL RBI
A RODRIGUEZ              133
M REYNOLDS               131
M RAMIREZ SEA          125

NL RBI
E LONGORIA                128
R HOWARD                   121
PUJOLS                          118

AL RUNS
M REYNOLDS               117
T HELTON                      114
A RODRIGUEZ               111

NL RUNS
 R HOWARD                   121
M HOLLIDAY CIN         118
C FIGGINS                      105

AL SB
J ELLSBURY MIN             78
J PIERRE  TEX                   74
C CRAWFORD TEX          53

NL SB
C FIGGINS                        83
M BOURN  LAD               65
W TAVERAS  ATL            61

AL SLG
A RODRIGUEZ                 .637
M REYNOLDS                  .623

NL SLG
C BELTRAN                       .594
A PUJOLS                          .587
R HOWARD                        .587

AL WINS
GREINKE    OAK               20
CAIN TEX                           16

NL WINS
C BILLINGSLEY                18
J JURRJENS  PIT                16

AL SAVES
SORIA                                   47
B WILSON  LAA                  46
LYON   BOS                         44

NL SAVES
FRANCISCO                         55
M GONZALEZ SF                 50
H BELL  FLA                         50

AL ERA
BUEHRLE   TB                    2.55
J JOHNSON   CWS            2.70
GREINKE                            3.06

NL ERA
D BUSH  LAD                     2.23
SABATHIA  FLA                2.38
BILLINGSLEY                    2.53

AL SO
J VERLANDER  TOR          253
J VAZQUEZ  LAA               227

NL SO
J PEAVY  STL                      243
SABATHIA  FLA                  240            

2011 TRADES

8-11
PLACED C B ENRIQUEZ ON 60-DAY DL

7-18
ACQ SP J MASTERSON AND SP A DENNISON FROM ROCKIES FOR SP H KURODA AND SS J MAHALO
ACQ RP J ROSS FROM ORIOLELS FOR RP J SAMRDZIJA
6-26
ACQ RF R ALONSO FROM ROCKIES FOR FOR RF C PAUL AND RF R COE
ACQ CJ H SPIVEY FROM DBACKS FOR SP E CUEVAS AND SP M GRADY

6-21
ACQ 2B A CLARK FROM PHILLIES FOR 2B R CASTRO, 3B D PITTMAN AND 1B C WINN
ACQ SP H KURODA, RP JOSE MIRAJES AND SS S DREW FROM PADRES FOR SS T TULOWITZKI

5-17
ACQ OF D OLIVER FROM PHILLIES FOR OF D OLIVER

5-14
PLACED CF A McCUTCHEN ON DL WITH TORN GROIN

5-10
AAA PLACED A CLOUD 2B-3B ON DL WITH DISLOCATED ANKLE

4-28
ACQ C B ENRIQUEZ FROM DODGERS FOR RF TYLER COLVIN AND 2B M MULLINS
ACQ OF T HINOJOSA FROM CUBS FOR OF P BURRELL AND CF G GARCIA

4-27
PLACED C J JARAMILLO ON DL WITH BROKEN ANKLE

4-23 ACQ CP B LYON AND LF P BURRELL FROM A'S FOR LF FRED LEWIS AND CP K WOOD

4-21
ACQ RP JOE SMITH FROM GIANTS FOR RP JOEL ZUMAYA

4-19
ACQ CP K WOOD AND RP T BUCHOLZ FROM METS FOR CP J JOHNSON, 3B J WIRTH AND CF C BASS
ACQ SP J DUCHSHERER AND RP S KELLEY FROM DODGERS FOR RP DAN WHEELER, LF S POSEDNIK AND SP N FIGUERORA

4-12
ACQ 1B P FIELDER FROM ROCKIES FOR 1B GARRETT JONES AND 1B TRAVIS HAFNER


4-10
ACQ LF R BRAUN AND 2B ARIEL CLOUD FROM PIRATES FOR RF NELSON CRUZ, 2B D UGGLA AND SP CHRIS VOLSTAD

4-4
ACQ SP F LIRIANO FROM TIGERS FOR SP F NIEVE AND RP T ANDRADE

ACQ RP D WHEELER FROM BREWERS FOR RP D McDONOUGH, RP L MUNIZ AND RP H LOZANO

4-3
ACQ RP J ZUMAYA RP W WRIGHT AND RP J McKINNEY FROM PADRES FOR C L BERGER, OF N SWISHER AND LF R GALLAGHER

ACQ C J JARAMIILO RP R McDONOUGH AND SP N FIGUERORA FROM GIANTS FOR IB A HUFF, LF D YOUNG ANDRP K JARVIS

2011 ROSTERS

MLB

#   NAME                            POS    HT  WT   YR/LENGTH/AVG   AGE
2 T TULOWITZKI            SS       6-3 205     2/4/9.2M                        26

13 A RODRIGUEZ             3B       6-3 228     2/8/15.8M                     35

28 P FIELDER                    1B       5-11 268    1/2/16.8M                    26

11 A McCUTCHEN            CF     5-10 175    1/3/7.3M                       24   DL

7 R BRAUN                       LF      6-1  200       2/6/7.2M                      27

88 J DUCHSHERER          SP       6-3 200        1/2/7.3M                      33

45 T BUCHOLZ                 RP       6-4 220       1/2/1.6M                      29

59 N VOGEL                      SP      6-3 210       2/2/409K                       21

51 B LYON                         CP      6-1 195       2/3/2.8M                       31

49 M AMIN                        SS       5-11 170

47 F LIRIANO                    SP       6-2 225       1/1/701K                      27

39 J SMITH                         RP       6-1 205       1/1/1.0M                      26

21 D HUDSON                    CP       6-4 207       2/2/409K                     19

56 W PURVIS                      SP        6-3 212      2/2/409K                      25

38 J JARAMILLO               C         6-0 210         1/3/316K                     28   DL

34 C MONTALVO              RP      5-10 174        2/2/409K                    25   AAA

24 S HOFF                         SS        5-11 170        2/2/54K                       20   AA

53 W WRIGHT                  RP        5-11 175        1/3/465K                   26   AAA

49 M AMIN                        SS        5-11 170        1/150K                       32

44 G THARP                      C          6-5 225          2/2/409K                    24  
         
5 W FERREIRA                  SP       6-5 204           1/3/399K                    21   AA

29 J SAMRDZIJA               RP       6-5 220

32 I RUFFIN                       SP       6-5 220

51 R WILLINGHAM          SP       5-10 175

17 T HINOJOSA                 OF      6-1 221                  1/3/380K   21
43 B GARDNER                  OF      5-10 183                1/2/404K   27
69 C BRAYMAN                 OF      6-2 240                 1/2/39K      28   AAA
52 C PAUL                           OF      5-10 181                1/2/39K     18   AA                                             
2 R COE                                OF      5-9 182                 1/1/40K      21   AA

19 A CLOUD                     3B          6-3 227                  2/3/41K     23   DL


65 C HANDY                    RP         6-3 186

55 H QUEEN                    3B         6-1 217                   2/3273K      25

73 M GRADY                   SP         6-5 195

66 M KINSEY                  CP        6-5 203

0  R CONNELL                1B         5-10 188

33 A DE AZA                   CF         5-11 189             1/2/263K   26    AAA

64 M FORBES                 LF          5-10 212             2/3/399K   19    AAA

99 N ANTHONY             SP           6-0 195

38 H CAVAZOS              OF           6-5 188          2/3/399K   25   AA

75 S LITTLE                     SP            6-4 231

78 M HAYNES                 SP           5-11 210

50 J RANDLE                    C            6-3 182            2/2/408K    AAA

10 C McGILL                     2B          6-2 223            2/2/409K    AAA

44 E WHITESIDE               C            6-1 215

19 C WINN                         1B          5-10 177

23 S HURD                          RP          6-5 223

48 R CASTRO                     2B           6-0 177

86 G GARCIA                      CF          5-10 186

55 T SHEFFIELD                  SS          5-8 194          1/1/40K    20    AAA
16 G BUNCH                         SS         5-11 189        2/3/38K     21   AA
89 A DEAL                       SS         5-9 175                1/2/34K     19     AA

67 L KINCAID                 CP        6-0 205

30 C BARROW                SP        5-10 164

61 D ALSTON                  RP       6-2 184

62 H PUCKETT                RP       5-10 167

11 A OLSON                    SP         6-5 215

18 S EVERETT                  LF         6-3 227                1/1/40K    21   AA

83 L BLUM                        CF         6-3 197                1/1/50K    29   AAA

2011 OFFSEASON

BOSTON HAD FOUR PLAYERS RETIRE: OF OSWALDO MALONE, 1B JUAN MIRANDA, 3B LEE QUEZEDA AND SP B TONEY.

OTHER MLB RETIREES INCLUDED T HOFFMAN, M STAIRS, J SMOLTZ, B ABREU, N McCLOUTH (INJURY), K GRIFFEY JR., A BENITEZ, B WAGNER, D LOWE, O VIZQUEL, B GILES, J MOYER, I RODRIGUEZ, J GIAMBI, J VARITEK, T WAKEFIELD, ICHIRO, M TEJADA, M MORA, G ANDERSON, B AUSMUS AND R AURELIA.

BOSTON CONTRACTS

RESIGNED 1B GARRETT JONES 4YR/22.73M

RESIGNED CF ANDREW McCUTCHEN 3YR/23.27M

RESIGNED SP CHRIS VOLSTAD 2YR/6.93M

CLAIMED 3B MATT TUASOSOPO OFF WAIVERS FROM NATS

RESIGNED SS ALFONZO DEAL 3YR/70K

RESIGNED OF ALEJANDRO DE AZA 2YR/540K

SIGNED LF FRED LEWIS 2YR/1.73M

SIGNED 1B AUBREY HUFF 1YR/3.08M

SIGNED LF SCOTT PODSEDNIK 1YR/1.38M

2010 RECAP

AL EAST
TOR  91-71 --
TB     87-75  4
NYY  71-91  20
BOS   71-91  20
BAL   70-92  21

AL CENTRAL
CWS   91-71  --
KC      86-76  5
MIN      74-88   17
CLE      74-88   17
DET       73-89  18

AL WEST
TEX        88-74  ----
SEA        83-79   5
ANA       83-79   5
OAK       82-80   6

NL EAST
NYM        89-73  ---
WASH      87-75  2
PHIL         83-79  6
FLA          80-82  9
ATL           75-87  14

NL CENTRAL
STL            92-70 ---
MIL           84-78  8
CIN            82-80  10
HOU          81-81  11
CUBS        78-84  14
PIT             75-87  17

NL WEST
SD              91-71  ---
SF               83-79  8
COL           83-79   8
LAD            74-88  17
ARIZ           69-93  22


PLAYOFFS

TOR 3
TEX 2

                                 CWS 4 TOR 2
CWS 3
TB  0

                                                                            CWS 4 SD 3

STL   3
WASH  0

                                     SD 4 STL 1
SD  3
NYM  2

WS GAME 7

CHICAGO - IT WAS A TALE OF TWO-OUT, TWO-RUN HOMERS.

THE WHITE SOX CAPTURED THE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP ON A TWO-RUN SHOT BY MIGUEL CABRERA IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 11TH TO TOPPLE SAN DIEGO 4-2.

CABRERA'S BLAST CAME OFF JOE NELSON, TWO INNINGS AFTER SAN DIEGO ROOKIE LINWOOD LYONS DRILLED HIS OWN TWO-OUT DINGER IN THE TOP OF THE NINTH TO TIE THE GAME 2-2. THAT STOPPED JOSH JOHNSON FROM EARNING THE COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUT BUT CABRERA WOULD DELIVER IN THE 11TH.

VLADIMIR GUERRERO AND HIDEKI MATSUI HIT SOLO HOMERS TO GIVE CHICAGO ITS 2-0 HEADING INTO THE NINTH.

AL MVP
C GRANDERSON  CWS    .332  44  125

NL MVP
R HOWARD             SD        .259  47  124

AL CY YOUNG
L HOCHEVAR       TB             17W  3.29  112SO

NL CY YOUNG
T LINCECUM         CIN           21W  2.31   272SO

AL SLUGGER
GRANDERSON

NL SILVER SLUGGER
C FIGGINS              STL            .335   7  72

AL ROY
M OLSEN    1B  CWS                 .276  35  104

NL ROY
J FLAHERTY  3B  PHIL               .257  17  63

LEAGUE LEADERS
AL

AVG
GRANDERSON                       .332
V GUERRERO         CWS        .330
McCUTCHEN          BOS        .319

HITS
GRANDERSON               221
JETER     BOS-BAL         194
B ROBERTS    OAK        193

2B
GUERRERO     CWS     49
JETER      BOS-BAL      46

3B
GRANDERSON             14
KEMP    LAA                 13

HR
RODRIGUEZ    BOS       45
GRANDERSON               44

RBI
GRANDERSON             125
M REYNOLDS  MIN    123
AROD                             118

RUNS
GRANDERSON               144
VICTORINO        DET        99
ETHIER                 OAK     98

SB
C CRAWFORD        CLE    55
J PIERRE                  TEX     45

SLUGGING
AROD                                    .641
GRANDERSON                      .632


W
F HERNANDEZ            KC      17
JN JOHNSON               CWS   17
HOCHEVAR                 TB      17

SAVES
S DOWNS            TOR             56
J SORIA                TB                45
BROXTON            SEA             45

ERA
J CHAMBERLAIN  ANA           2,46
ZAMBRANO           TOR            2.74

SO
GRIENKE                  OAK         251
J VAZQUEZ              CAL           244
VERLANDER             TOR          240

NL
AVERAGE
C FIGGINS                  STL         .335
PUJOLS                       ATL          .321
MAUER                         CUBS       .320

HITS
FIGGINS                         STL        214
ICHIRO                            NYM      206

2B
HOLLIDAY              CIN               59
FIGGINS                                        54
POLANCO               ARIZ            52

3B
ICHIRO      NYM                      12

HR
HOWARD                      SD        47
FIELDER                       COL      47

RBI
UTLEY     WASH                127
HOWARD   SD                   124

RUNS
ICHIRO                                 114
A GONZALEZ    MIL            105

SB
FIGGINS            STL               81
BOURN             LAD               69

SLUG
J HAMILTON       NYM          .621

W
LINCECUM 21

S
CAPPS     HOU  50
WOOD     NYM  50

ERA
LINCECUM                                     2.31
B WEBB                   MIL                  2.50

2010 MLB STATS

NAME                         GP    AVG  HR  RBI  SB
A RODRIGUEZ         151   .310    45    118  18

D UGGLA                   151   .270    29    70    3

TULOWITZKI            144    .271   26    79    10

N CRUZ                      142     .272   27   99    10

G JONES                    137      .272   15   55    15

A McCUTCHEN            134   .319   15   68    19

T HAFNER                   132     .265   17   74   0

R CASTRO                    110     .244   18   46   0

D YOUNG                     110      .261    6    43   1

, 255 TEAM

NAME                            GP   W   L    ERA    SV  HLD

SAMARDZIJA                77    5    5    3.11       0    10

J JOHNSON                    69   4    4    3.41        31    4

C MONTALVO               53   3    0    2.66         1     13

J ABALADEJO                53    8   3    2.66         2     8

H VALENZUELA            34    3    4    6.21        0      7

B MATUSZ                      30   8   12    4.44

SEDENQUIST                  30  9   1      4.37

LATOS                              29   3   10   5.51

T HUNTER                        22    7    8   3.99

M HAYNES                       17    1    6   4.77

K JARVIS                           15    1    1   4.13             1   0

R WILLINGHAM                13   1    1   5.09

4.61 TEAM