This season feels like it's winding down really fast. However, it seems like some players wanted to make an impact before the end. Many players have rebounded after having some tough previous weeks and have made the list. Grady Sizemore put up some monster numbers this week, but Jimmy Rollins probably has the comeback performance after being absolutely horrible early on. This list also includes a potential Cy Young winner, as well as a possible MVP, who didn't have the best of weeks. There are also two players who some had viewed as washed up, who have gone on to have terrific seasons. There are many players in this article, but all of them are deserving. This installment of
MLB Status Check consists of three categories. Three players are placed in each category that best illustrates the type of week they had. Every player on this list was deserving and deserves recognition for their effort.
Lived up to the hype:
Grady Sizemore (CF - Cleveland Indians) - Sizemore became only the second player in Indians history to ever hit 30 homeruns and steal 30 bases in the same season. In fact, he's just the 14th American League player to ever reach that milestone. He reached that mark after having an unbelievable week. His numbers for the week truly were incredible. He had a high average, he had a high amount of hits, he scored lots of runs, he put the ball in the stands, he drove in runs, and he stole a bunch of bases. He was the ultimate player this week and he had the best overall week of any player in recent memory, at least of any that I can remember. Sizemore was drafted early on because of his ability and his potential. He's shown his ability a lot, but this week he showed his potential and helped give fans a glimpse of what he's truly capable of once he reaches his full potential.
9/30, 5 runs, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 4 SB, .300 AVG
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Jimmy Rollins (SS - Philadelphia Phillies) - I predicted that Rollins was a perfect buy low candidate, and that he would bounce back in a big way. Rollins definitely made me look like a guru this week because he had a fantastic week. He was in the middle of a huge slump after calling the Phillies fans "frontrunners". He was then booed during every at bat, but now he's giving fans a reason to cheer again. Rollins did just about everything this week and he finally looked like a true top 10 draft pick. The reigning NL MVP has had a very down year, but this week shows what he's truly capable of, just like he showed last season. He won't keep putting up the same monster numbers week after week, but it does look he's officially out of his slump.
10/29, 5 runs, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 5 SB, .345 AVG
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Tim Lincecum (SP - San Francisco Giants) - I was a skeptic at first, I admit it. I really didn't think Lincecum would be as good as everyone assumed. I also thought Brandon Webb would be the clear cut finalist for NL Cy Young, but Lincecum is putting up amazing numbers and seems to be fighting tooth and nail to put up the best numbers imaginable as the season winds down. Webb has been very solid, but there were times that he also looked human and didn't seem to have his stuff. However, it seems like Lincecum always has his stuff, even if it's just his fastball. He's probably the best young pitching prospect to come along since Josh Beckett. Lincecum may be small and have an extremely violent delivery, but he gets the job done. His dad likes to think of him as a modern day Sandy Koufax. Koufax was, IMO, the most dominant pitcher ever, but he only played for a short while. Hopefully Lincecum has a longer career because his stuff is electric.
2 wins, 0 losses, 15.2 IP, 18 K, 0.57 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
Failed to live up to the hype:
Joe Saunders (SP - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) - Saunders previously had his worst start of the season last week, but things just got a little worse for him. On Wednesday he couldn't even make it to the second inning. He allowed a ton of runs to the A's, which was surprising since many saw it as a fairly easy win. Saunders has looked extremely hittable as of late, and it's possible that he could be dealing with a bit of fatigue. He was great in the first half of the season, but ever since the All-Star break he has looked human. His ERA before the break was 3.07, but his ERA post All-Star break is 5.32. Saunders has been roughed up lately, but he's too good to continue being hit around like a batting practice pitcher. Hopefully he turns things around quickly for owners.
0 wins, 2 losses, 6.2 IP, 1 K, 16.20 ERA, 2.70 WHIP
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Josh Hamilton (CF/RF - Texas Rangers) - It looks like Hamilton is another player who's been suffering from fatigue. He still leads the league in RBI, but he's only hit 21 RBI since the break, compared to the 95 he drove in before the break. His average is also .50 points lower. Things seemed to get a bit worse for Hamilton after he was scratched in his last game for an apparent abscessed tooth. He's been able to overcome much bigger obstacles than the ones that currently face him, therefore expect him to start putting up decent numbers again. However, he'll have a harder time doing that if Ian Kinsler doesn't return. Hamilton is a terrific player, even if his career has been a bit short, so he should wind up driving in even more runs before the end of the season. Who knows, maybe he'll go on the same kind of tear that he did during the Home Run Derby.
4/23, 2 runs, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, .174 AVG
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B.J. Upton (2B/CF - Tampa Bay Rays) - Upton seems to have regressed big time. Last year he put up 24 HR, 82 RBI, and hit .300. This year he's only got 8 HR and 59 RBI, but he has stolen 15 more bases so far. However, his average has been pretty low. He's an extremely talented player, but he just hasn't seemed as into the game as much as he was last year. That much is clear when he doesn't run out ground balls, jogs into second thinking he has an easy double, only to get tagged out, etc. Who does he think he is, Manny Ramirez? The Rays' manager, Joe Maddon, has done the right thing in benching Upton. Hopefully it gets through his head that nothing is a given and that hustle is part of the game. If he'd hustle all the time then he could put up monster numbers. His lack of hustle is what keeps him from being an elite player.
3/18, 1 run, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 SB, .167 AVG
Keep an eye on:
Carlos Delgado (1B - New York Mets) - Delgado seems to put up numbers in bulk this year. Earlier in the year he put up nine RBI in one game. This week he put up six RBI in a game. On top of that he's also put a lot of balls into the stands, hitting four homers in three games. Delgado was avoided by many in the draft because he was seen as an aging first baseman who really didn't have the power he once had. He had a great first year with the Mets, but last year was far from great. It was solid, but he's already surpassed what he was able to do. It seems like he's finally healthy and, if there's some way he's available, he should be picked up. He does his damage in bulk, but that really doesn't matter in head-to-head leagues. That's actually perfect.
12/29, 5 runs, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 0 SB, .414 AVG
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Randy Johnson (SP - Arizona Diamondbacks) - Another player that has made me look like a guru after putting up terrific second half numbers. He looks like the RJ of old. The intimidating figure on the mound. The one who's got a wicked slider and makes batters swing out of their shoes. Yes, that RJ is back. However, lately he hasn't gotten the run support that he had earlier. That's surprising since the D-Backs added Adam Dunn to the lineup. RJ may not have the best record at 10-9, but he's had about nine total starts that were either losses or no decisions in which he gave up three runs or less. This week he gave up four runs in 14 innings, but he got two no decisions. He's been pitching brilliantly as of late. His ERA after the break has been 1.82. That is absolutely dominant. Chances are he won't be on anyone's waiver wire anymore, but if he could be had for fairly cheap then it may be worth it. Perhaps an owner finally got frustrated with the no decisions.
0 wins, 0 losses, 14 IP, 22 K, 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
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David Purcey (SP - Toronto Blue Jays) - Purcey picked up a loss this week, but it was definitely thanks to bad luck. He bounced back nicely after getting lit up by the Yankees. However, he did manage to lose to Tampa Bay. He was dominant though and was the victim of a solo homerun. That homerun wound up being the deciding factor in a 1-0 game. Purcey was great for the Jays though because he went deep into the game and fanned a ton of batters. Most teams would take eight innings and one run from a young guy everyday of the week, especially when they strike out a ton of batters. He's been so-so in his other starts, but this week he showed that he does have talent. Thanks to his great game, albeit a losing performance, he earned his spot on this list.
0 wins, 1 loss, 8 IP, 11 K, 1.12 ERA, 0.63 WHIP