Panic time? Six slow-starting MLB teams dig early holes
Article By smcneal.tsn on 20th April, 2010
You know it's early when you look at struggling teams and neither the Pirates nor Nationals are on the list.
But there is no shortage of clubs to assume their spots:
Red Sox
David Ortiz and the Red Sox offense have struggled, but that's only part of the problem. The problem: The offense has struggled with runners in scoring position, but that stat is bound to improve. More concerning is the lackluster defense. The Red Sox allowed nine unearned runs in their first 13 games, third-most in the majors. Four (in one inning) were the result of an error by center fielder Mike Cameron, who hasn't displayed the defense expected of him. The Red Sox lost that game to the Rays, 6-5, en route to being swept in the four-game series. "I've made that catch a thousand times, but that time I didn't," said Cameron, who had a tough week. He passed a kidney stone Friday, returned to the lineup Saturday, sat out Monday because of similar symptoms and was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with an abdominal strain.
Panic level: 6 (out of 10). The Red Sox have too much talent and resources to not win. Their real problem is the Rays, who have an even better team than the one that went to the World Series two years ago.
Cubs
The problem: A veteran scout likes to tell me, "The team that figures out its bullpen first is the team that wins." The Cubs have much figuring to do, specifically in the seventh and eighth innings. They already have lost six games in which they led or were tied going into the seventh inning. John Grabow was supposed to be Carlos Marmol's setup man, but the lefthander already has lost two games with eighth-inning failures. Jeff Samardzija continues to disappoint and lost a game to the Brewers when he unwisely tried to throw a fastball past Ryan Braun. Bringing in Marmol in the eighth hasn't worked, either. His only blown save came when he allowed an inherited runner to score in the eighth.<...
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But there is no shortage of clubs to assume their spots:
Red Sox
David Ortiz and the Red Sox offense have struggled, but that's only part of the problem. The problem: The offense has struggled with runners in scoring position, but that stat is bound to improve. More concerning is the lackluster defense. The Red Sox allowed nine unearned runs in their first 13 games, third-most in the majors. Four (in one inning) were the result of an error by center fielder Mike Cameron, who hasn't displayed the defense expected of him. The Red Sox lost that game to the Rays, 6-5, en route to being swept in the four-game series. "I've made that catch a thousand times, but that time I didn't," said Cameron, who had a tough week. He passed a kidney stone Friday, returned to the lineup Saturday, sat out Monday because of similar symptoms and was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with an abdominal strain.
Panic level: 6 (out of 10). The Red Sox have too much talent and resources to not win. Their real problem is the Rays, who have an even better team than the one that went to the World Series two years ago.
Cubs
The problem: A veteran scout likes to tell me, "The team that figures out its bullpen first is the team that wins." The Cubs have much figuring to do, specifically in the seventh and eighth innings. They already have lost six games in which they led or were tied going into the seventh inning. John Grabow was supposed to be Carlos Marmol's setup man, but the lefthander already has lost two games with eighth-inning failures. Jeff Samardzija continues to disappoint and lost a game to the Brewers when he unwisely tried to throw a fastball past Ryan Braun. Bringing in Marmol in the eighth hasn't worked, either. His only blown save came when he allowed an inherited runner to score in the eighth.<...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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