Hello everyone and welcome to Fountain City Baseball Tonight Clubhouse. Your one stop shop for all things Fountain City Baseball League. We have a huge weekend of baseball for you, with division rivals facing off in every game. It has been a great year for the league with nine of sixteen teams all .500 or better. Will this continue? Only time will tell!
We start off in the West division with the young and inexperienced Kansas City Royals facing against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kansas City, when you combine their inexperience, and tough first half schedule, has only managed 14 wins so far this year. However, they continue to fight hard. Manager Jason Blue and Tampa manager Josh Callahan are the best of friends off the field, but you can bet that will all be thrown out the window once the umpire shouts “PLAY BALL!” Only two games separate heated division rivals Brian Goodwin and Nathan Sheets teams. Seattle Mariners are catching fire, winners of 8 of their last 10 games. Goodwin has turned the heat up on his team, making sure they knew their earlier season woes were not acceptable. The Oakland A’s have not been quite as fortunate, winners of only 5 of their last ten. Reports continue to surface that Sheets is going to be a major buyer on the trade market as we get closer to the deadline.
Moving onto the Midwest division, where the division continues to impress with the last place team only being 7 games back. First we have the Cleveland Indians facing the Chicago White Sox. This reporter was on hand for the Indians impressive road series against the Atlanta Braves. I can tell you that Manager Justin Thome is managing his heart out, trying to squeeze every run he can out of his team. The White Sox, after making a early season charge have cooled off considerably, losing 8 of 10 games. Reports continue to surface from within the organization about whether or not Manager Matt Belbin heart is still in running his organization. Here’s hoping his heart is in it, because this is a better league with him in it, and being active. The other division game is the LA Dodgers versus the Texas Rangers. Managers Bill Toth and Tony Christofaro have made no secret of their competitive fire when it comes to their teams, even wagering draft picks on whoever finishes higher. In a sport where gambling is frowned on, how do they get away with doing just that you ask? That is another interview with Commissioner Noland for another time I suppose. Expect a hard fought series, with tempers flaring and more hard feelings.
The Central Division hasn’t been much of a contest so far, with the SF Giants dominating. The Giants are up by 9 games and are on cruise control heading towards another division title. Things don’t look to be getting any tougher, as the Giants get the Houston Astros. Houston manager Bryan Wayt is doing what he normally does, showing patience, and giving his team a chance to play their way out of their early season funk. Critics in Houston are wondering if it’s time for Wayt change his philosophy and become active in the trade market. The other game has the Boston Red Sox going into Wrigley and facing the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have been one of the surprise teams in the league the past two years. The change occurred when Manager Justin McDivitt changed his organizational philosophy and realized drafting well and developing his younger players rather than taking one year wonders is the way to run his team. Watching that team go from laughing stock to playoff contender has been a joy to watch the last two years.
Finally, the Eastern Division. The Cincinnati Reds head to Miami to take on the Florida Marlins. The Marlins have by far been the most disappointing team in the league. Manager Kyle Wright certainly isn’t ready to give up, but maybe it’s time to completely blow this team up. Wright needs to face facts and realize his team just hasn’t been the same since he foolishly traded All-World player Albert Pujols to division rival Atlanta. Speaking of Atlanta, it doesn’t get any bigger than their game versus division rival St. Louis. Both teams have been incredibly hot in their first going a amazing 73-23 combined in their first 96 games. St. Louis swept Atlanta in the first 3 games of the year, however I’m going to tell you why it will probably be different this time around. First, Atlanta is fortunate in the fact they are facing the bottom half of St. Louis rotation starting off with Max Scherzer, who has struggled in his first trip around the majors, posting a 1-3 record with a 5.21 ERA. Second, is simply the fact that Atlanta is a better team. St. Louis has had an amazing year, with some nice players, but Atlanta is a GREAT team. Atlanta is a team who arguably has a Hall of Famer in 4 of their 9 slots with the jury still out on Longoria, Martin, and Reyes. Prediction? Expect Atlanta to take two of the first 3, but don’t be surprised if there is a sweep.
Cramer
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5/29/2009 12:00:00 AM
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