LestersLegends.com

Josh Beckett - Beckett struggled through injuries to a 12-10, 4.03 ERA season in 2008.  The encouraging news is despite not having his typical stuff, he still managed 172 Ks and a 1.19 WHIP.  A healthy Josh Beckett should approach is 2007 numbers.  20 Wins, low 3.00 ERA, and 190 Ks.

 

Justin Verlander - Like most Tigers Verlander had a 2008 to forget.  He went 11-17 with a 4.84 ERA, and a 1.40 WHIP,

John Lackey - Why do all of these guys’ names start with a J?  Lackey managed just 24 starts last year, but went 12-5.  His ERA was a shade higher than normal at 3.75 (the three previous years it was 3.44, 3.56, and 3.01).  He struck out roughly the same ratio of batters 7.19 K/9 in 2007 & 7.17 in 2008. I see no reason no to expect 17+ Wins, a 3.50 ERA, and 180 Ks.

 

Carlos Zambrano - Zambrano had a nice winning percentage (.700) as he went 14-6, but he struck out just 130 batters.  I don’t see a big change in his WHIP or ERA, but I expect him to win 17+ games and strike out 170 batters. 

Chris Carpenter - Proceed with caution with Carpenter as he has lost two years to injury.  He was, however, one of the best pitchers in the game from 2004-2006.  If he looks good this Spring, why not take a chance on him?

Photos courtesy of Icon SMI

Tuesday, July 8th
Miguel Cabrera went 4 for 4 with 2 Runs, 2 HRs, and 3 RBI.  Carlos Beltran went 3 for 4 with a HR and 4 RBI.  Jim Thome went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs, 2 Doubles, and a Walk.  Esteban German went 4 for 6 with 3 Runs, a Double, an RBI, and a SB.  Alexei Ramirez and Mike Aviles also had 4 Hits.  Chase Headley went 3 for 5 with 4 RBI.  Scott Hairston went 3 for 5 with 2 Runs, 2 Doubles, an HR, and 3 RBI.  Brian McCann hit a pair of solo shots.  Kevin Youkilis, Adam LaRoche, Richie Weeks (3 Runs), and Mark Kotsay each had 3 Hits.  Marcus Thames, Alex Rios, Ryan Braun, Geovany Soto, Yunel Escobar, and Nate McLouth each had 3 RBI.  Kelly Johnson scored 3 Runs.

Justin Duchscherer pitched a Complete Game two-hit Shutout to improve to 10-5 with a 1.78 ERA.  He’s got to be the early AL Cy Young favorite.  Andy Pettitte gave up 4 Hits with 5 Ks in 8 scoreless Innings to improve to 10-6 with a 3.93 ERA.  Justin Verlander gave up 2 Runs on 2 Hits with 7 Ks to improve to 6-9.  Nick Blackburn gave up 2 Runs in a 6-2/3 Inning no-decision.  Scott Kazmir gave up 2 Runs in 5 Innings with 9 Ks, but took a Loss.  Joel Pineiro tossed 6-1/3 scoreless Innings to improve to 3-4.  Cole Hamels gave up 2 Runs on 3 Hits with 8 Ks, but took the Loss.  Brandon Webb delivered a Devil’s line with 6 scoreless Innings, 6 Hits, and 6 Ks to improve to 13-4 with a 3.27 ERA.  Mike Pelfrey threw 7 scoreless Innings allowing 3 Hits with 5 Ks to improve to 7-6 with a 3.93 ERA.  C.C. Sabathia gave up 2 Earned Runs in 6 Innings to win his Milwaukee debut.  Matt Harrison dominated his Big Leauge debut going 7 Innings and allowing 2 Runs on 5 Hits.  Ryan Dempster gave up 1 Run on 2 Hits in 7 Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 10-3 with a 3.13 ERA.  Carlos “Hi Ho” Silva gave up 2 Runs in a Complete Game loss.  Randy Wolf gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits in 7 Innings with 7 Ks to improve to 6-8.  Jair Jurrjens gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits with 6 Ks in 6 Innings to improve to 9-4 with a 3.00 ERA.

I am going out of town today so I won’t be able to post the July 5th and 6th editions of the FBPoD.  Enjoy the holiday everyone!

Thursday, July 3rd
Aubrey Huff cracked 2 HRs and drove in 3 Runs.  J.J. Hardy, Matt Joyce, and Mark Grudzielanek each had 4 Hits.  Jeff Baker had 4 RBI.  Corey Hart, Ichiro Suzuki, Jose Lopez, Pedro Feliz, Brandon Phillips (3 RBI), and Cody Ross each had 3 Hits.  Chad Tracy, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, Ivan Rodriguez, and Jose Guillen each had 3 RBI.

Jon Lester threw a five-hit Complete Game Shutout to improve to 7-3 with a 3.21 ERA.  Cole Hamels gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits in 8-2/3 Innigs with 7 Ks to improve to 9-5 with a 3.22 ERA.  Manny Parra tossed 6 scoreless Innings, but took a no-decision.  Johnny Cueto gave up 3 Runs in 7 Innings with 8 Ks to improve to 7-8.  Chad Billingsley gave up 2 unearned Runs in 8 Innings to improve to 8-7 with a 3.12 ERA.  Mark Redman gave up 2 Runs in a 6 Inning no-decision.  Justin Duchscherer gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings to improve to 9-5 with a 1.96 ERA.  Javier Vazquez pitched a Complete Game giving up 3 Runs on 4 Hits with 10 Ks, but took the Loss.  Mike Pelfrey gave up 1 Run in Inniings to improve to 6-6.  Justin Verlander gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings to improve to 5-9.

Sunday, June 22nd
Mark Teixeira hit 3 HRs and drove in 4 Runs.  Aaron Miles had 5 Hits.  Prince Fielder scored 3 Runs and added a Double, 2 HRs, and 3 RBI.  Kevin Youkilis hit a pair of HRs and drove in 3 Runs.  Randy Winn had 4 Hits and 3 RBI.  Dustin Pedroia had 4 Hits.  Joe Inglett, Conor Jackson, Jody Gerut, Jason Giambi, Fred Lewis, John Bowker (3 RBI), Mark Ellis, Adam Kennedy, Mike Lowell, and Juan Pierre each had 3 Hits.  Mike Aviles and Magglio Ordonez each had 3 RBI.  Marco Scutaro, Eric Patterson, and Ray Durham each scored 3 Runs.

Tim Hudson gave up 4 Hits in 7 scoreless Innings to improve to 8-5 with a 2.96 ERA.  John “Blackbird” Lannan gave up 2 Runs on 4 Hits with 6 Ks in a 6 Inning no-decision.  Livan Hernandez gave up 1 Earned Run in 7 Innings to improve to 8-4.  Andy Pettitte gave up 4 Hits in 6 scoreless Innings as he improved to 8-5.  Brandon Backe gave up 2 Runs in 6-2/3 Innings to improve to 5-8.   Justin Duchscherer gave up 1 Run in 7-2/3 Innings to improve to 8-4 with a 1.99 ERA.  Jon Lester (7-1/3 Innings, 2 Runs) and Joel Pinero (7 Innings, 2 Runs) battled to no-decisions.  Justin Verlander gave up 2 Runs in 5-1/3 Innings with 10 Ks to improve to 4-9.  Randy Wolf gave up 2 Earned Runs in 6 Innings with 10 Ks, but took the Loss.  Ryan Dempster scattered 10 Hits in 8 Innings allowing 1 Run to improve to 9-2 with a 2.63 ERA.