Opening week of the 2013 MLB year is currently in the books, and there have been a lot of losers and winners to bypass. The eyes of several fans were dedicated to a number of players who were building their debuts with new groups. Different fans were eyeballing their favorite group after making wholesale changes for their roster. Beginners were being observed as well to observe how well they'd perform beneath the bright lights for the very first time. Listed below are 20 types of both hot starts or cool origins in baseball's first week. Winner: Colorado Rockies Dustin Bradford/Getty Images Okay, break up those Colorado Rockies! After losing on Opening Day, the Rockies won their next five games, capturing the North Park Padres with a genuine 9-1 victory on Sunday. The Rockies are hittinga'certainly maybe not unexpected simply because finished third in the National League in runs scored this past year. It's the bullying that is surprising just about everyone. Jhoulys Chacin worked 6.2 innings against the Padres, quitting just one run on six hits. He now has a 1.35 ERA in two starts after suffering through an injury-filled 2012 period. Last season is started by the same for Juan Nicasio, who also made only 11. Nicasio looked strong in his first start as well. Tim Francis and Jon Garland also got into the work, both picking right up wins within the Padres as well. It might change the entire view in the NL West, if the Rockies can get some selling throughout the entire. Given, it is only week, but it's certainly an encouraging sign. Loser: New York Yankees Gregory Shamus/Getty Photographs The Newest York Yankees picked up their 2nd win of the summer season on Sunday on a solid work by ace CC Sabathia. But, the 2-4 start came with some ominous signs. The Yankees hit just.242 with 24 runs scored. While that's not even near the bottom in the American League, it had been clear that the offense lacked the explosiveness noticed in modern times. Kevin Youkilis and Eduardo Nunez, replacing Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter respectively, both got down to warm starts. But Robinson Cano hit just.130 and Ichiro Suzuki just.111 in starting week play. It appears clear that the Yankees may only get so far as their pitching will require them. Winner: Bob Davis, Baltimore Orioles Ron Carr/Getty Pictures Frank Davis is now enjoying first base full-time for the Baltimore Orioles. He's also now in the history books as well. Davis' grand-slam home run using Friday from the Minnesota Twins gave him an four home runs and 16 RBI in the first four games. He tied an MLB history by homering in each one of the first four games, joining Willie Mays, Mark McGwire and Nelson Cruz. Adam Jones wasn't too cheap in the season's first week, often. Jackson hit a sizzling.538 with eight RBI. Loser: Heath Bell, Illinois Diamondbacks Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports In being worked to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the offseason, reliever Heath Bell could wipe away the memories of an awful 2012 time with the Miami Marlins. He apparently did not do a sufficient job of erasing these remembrances. Before he finally an end to things Bell did get a save against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, however not without permitting a run on three strikes and the tying run on third base. Bell posted a 15.43 in three shows, covering one reasonable trip on Saturday against Milwaukee around two stinkers. It's early yet, but the Diamondbacks can not be too motivated by what they've seen thus far. Winner: Carl Crawford Victor Decolongon/Getty Pictures After two unhappy times with the Boston Red Sox, two things that Carl Crawford wished to prevent was a cold start or to not even start the season at all for the L A Dodgers. Both fates were safely avoided by him. Crawford did in reality remain off the disabled list to begin the season, his knee adequately healed from his reconstructive surgery last August. And his Dodgers debut was made by him in grand style, hitting.450 with two stolen bases. Striking towards the top of the order, Crawford looks relaxed and comfortable. Perhaps not since his days with the Tampa Bay Rays has that been seen, and the Dodgers are expecting to visit a many more of that look through the entire year. Loser: Aaron Hicks, Minnesota Twins Hannah Foslien/Getty Images Minnesota Twins heart industry prospect was wanting to make the leap from Double-A ball to the majors this spring. He hit.370 with four home runs and 18 RBI, whipping out Darin Mastroianni for the work and earning the proper to begin. His first week was not quite what he or the Twins had anticipated. Hicks was only 2-for-26 (.077) in the season's first six games, striking out 11 times. Some time will be likely Hicked by manager Ron Gardenhire, but he could possibly be in the kids exercising his problems, if that cool start extends into late April. Winner: Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers Harry How/Getty Pictures After signing a, $147 million deal, there were high expectations for Zack Greinke as he started on his job with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Those hopes were momentarily dashed when Greinke suffered through knee tenderness throughout the spring and finished with a ERA in four Cactus League begins. Greinke put those worries to rest along with his start on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was amazing, scattering two hits over 6.1 innings not walking a batter and while striking out six. Combined with Clayton Kershaw at the top, the Dodgers appear to have a 1-2 impact at the top of their turning that would be fatal certainly. Loser: Pittsburgh Devils Justin E. Aller/Getty Images The Pittsburgh Pirates have extended their streak of consecutive dropping seasons over the past 2 yrs by diminishing in the second half. Early this year they decided to begin. The Pirates happened to a start, and to blame was what general director Neal Huntington tried to fix earlier this offseasona'the offense. In fact, Pittsburgh bats were utterly offensive in the very first week. They combined hitting just.119 for the week, scoring just eight runs in six games. Their biggest buy of the offseason, catcher Russell Martin, has yet to gather his first hit. Claire McCutchen hit a house run on Sunday, the initial for your group. Ouch. Winner: L. A. Dodgers Bullpen Victor Decolongon/Getty Photos A lot of the give attention to the La Dodgers this offseason was the amount of money spent by title, specifically for beginners Zack Greinke and Hyun-jin Ryu. As the turn has pitched very well in the first week, the bullpen was totally spotless. A 0.00 ERA have been posted by the relief corps. In fact, it had not really abandoned a hit until Ronald Belisario eventually allowed a single to Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jose Tabata in the seventh inning on Sunday. Just one hit in 13 innings is obviously getting the job done. Loser: Tim Keppinger, Chicago White Sox Jonathan Daniel/Getty Pictures The Chicago White Sox were looking towards third baseman Jeff Keppinger making an impact at the very top of their collection. They are still waiting. Keppinger's first week in Chicago couldn't have gone much worse. He concluded on Sunday with a average (1-for-21). A solid on-base guy was wanted by the White Sox to follow along with Alejandro De Aza at the top of the order. Keppinger has been off-base thus far. Winner: New York Mets Starting Turning Robert Stobe/Getty Images The New York Mets traded R.A. Dickey and they are with no services of Johan Santana for your time. But the remaining portion of the team has moved up so far. The Mets starting turning placed an outstanding 1.98 ERA in the first two games, led by a absolutely dominating performance from Matt Harvey on Wednesday. Harvey allowed only one hit with 10 strikeouts in seven innings in a wonderful performance contrary to the Hillcrest Padres. Loser: Dan Haren, Washington People Jamie Sabau/Getty Images John Haren had to endure concerns about his hip and right back through a lot of the offseason. A deal with the Chicago Cubs was nixed as a result of health conditions in late October. Those issues generated merely a one-year cope with the Washington Nationals. After his performance on Friday contrary to the Cincinnati Reds, it is clear if his health is questioned by people once more. Haren confronted a from the Reds, quitting six runs on eight hits including four home runs. It didn't support that Haren was selling at Great American Ball Park, demonstrably a hitter's getaway. Haren has been prone to the gopher baseball throughout his career as well. But Thursday's work was definitely not an excellent start for a pitcher whom many have concerns with. Winner: Bryce Harper, California People Joe Robbins/Getty Images Bryce Harper is doing every thing to ensure that the horrible sophomore decline does not have any place in his term. Harper got down to a great start in doing exactly that, striking.360 with three home runs and five RBI. With high expectations for the Nationals, Harper does his part to date to ensure those expectations are met. And he'll gladly play the role of sophomore slump-buster. Loser: Josh Hamilton, Los Angeles Angels Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Activities It's probably that Josh Hamilton had a couple of discussions with new teammate Albert Pujols throughout the spring. Pujols got off to an extremely slow start for the Los Angeles Angels in his first year with the club last year. No doubt he and Hamilton had some healthy conversations about putting pressure on each other to impress their new friends. It did not help. A 3-for-5 effort is put up by hamilton against his former staff on Sunday evening, but he still finished the week with a.160 average and only two RBI with 10 strikeouts. The Angels want to do all they can to prevent last springs horrendous 6-14 start. They'll require the bat of Hamilton to simply help in preventing that same fate. Winner: Will Middlebrooks, Boston Red Sox John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Spo Will Middlebrooks was well on his solution to a highly skilled rookie plan last year, striking.288 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI. A wayward message last August broke his wrist, putting a conclusion to a good debut. Middlebrooks broke from Sunday from the Toronto Blue Jays, hitting three towering home runs. He not exactly struck a as well, flying out to the warning track in the eighth inning. Middlebrooks hit.320 with four home runs and six RBI in the first week. Loser: Houston Astros Frank Levey/Getty Pictures The Houston Astros started the summer season on a brilliant note, beating the Texas Rangers on Opening Night the other day before a national market. Cries of "break up these Astros" were a little early. The Astros have since lost five straight, including a sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics. They hit just.199 as a and their cause was not helped by a 5.00 team ERA, both. Well, at the very least they began the summer season on a high note. Winner: Justin Upton, Atlanta Braves Scott Cunningham/Getty Pictures Atlanta Braves remaining fielder Justin Upton teamed with brother B.J. Upton on Saturday to provide supporters with a taste of what can come in another couple of years. After B.J. opened the ninth inning with a home run off Chicago Cubs closer Carlos Marmol, brother Justin moved to the plate two batters later and hit a solo home run. Upton completed the week hitting.318 with five home runs and seven RBI. Loser: R.A. Dickey, Toronto Blue Jays Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Photographs R.A. Dickey's debut with the Toronto Blue Jays didn't go exactly as in the pipeline last Tuesday, giving up three acquired runs in five hits with four walks in six innings of work in a to the Cleveland Indians. Things did not get much better for Dickey on Sunday from the Boston Red Sox. Dickey quit five sequential hits to the the initial five players in the Red Sox lineup, capped by a house run by Will Middlebrooks. In every, Dickey threw in the towel seven gained runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings, raising his ERA to 8.44. Not just a good start for the brand new Toronto ace. Winner: Clayton Kershaw, L. A. Dodgers Victor Decolongon/Getty Photos Irrespective of probably putting back-to-back no-hitters, the week couldn't have gotten off to a better start for La Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw. The season was started by kershaw with an excellent four-hit shutout contrary to the Bay Area Giants with seven strikeouts and no walks. He followed up that energy with another outstanding performance, giving up just two hits in seven innings contrary to the Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out another nine batters with one walk. Kershaw quickly earns the star of the week for his extraordinary work. Loser: Carlos Marmol, Detroit Cubs Justin K. Aller/Getty Photos The week couldn't have gone much worse for Chicago Cubs closer Carlos Marmol. In fact, the phrase sooner can not be attached with his name anymore. Marmol quit tying and winning house runs to B.J. and Justin Upton on Saturday night, pressing the Cubs to mention that Kyuji Fujikawa may be the team's new sooner. Assume the Marmol trade rumors ahead warm and heavy in the coming days. Doug Mead is really a featured author with Bleacher Report. His work has been included on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle.
No comments:
Post a Comment