MLB: Albert Pujols and Each Team's Biggest Concern Moving Forward

The first three months of the 2011 MLB season are nearly in the books.

Pitchers are getting hot, hitters are starting to find their stride, and teams are trying to find a perfect balance between the two.

This so-called equilibrium does have its ups and downs, faltering through injury and succeeding by consistency.

Where certain MLB franchises manage to fall along this imaginary assembly line is left in the hands of baseball's competitive nature.

Teams are going to fight to win.

And with all these trial and tribulations, successions and failure that corrupt the win column, who's to blame?

Who can make or break their team's campaign?

With that said, here are each team's biggest concern heading into the second half of the 2011 season.

Arizona Diamondbacks

*Keeping Up With Kennedy*

Ian Kennedy has been one of the best pitchers in the league through the first few months.

He's compiled an 8-2 record with a sub-3.00 ERA spanning over 16 starts..

Kennedy is the Arizona Diamonbacks best pitcher, as he was last year, and there's no contest.

Daniel Hudson has pitched well thus far, but if the first place D'backs want to maintain their steam heading into latter months of the season, the 26-year-old Kennedy is the key.

Looks like the New York Yankees should of traded Phil Hughes instead.

Atlanta Braves

*Hopeful Heyward*

It's as simple as this.

If Jason Heyward can get back to his old rookie self, then the Atlanta Braves will win the NL East.

Heyward has been a roller coaster ride in 2011 whether it's been an inconsistent bat or a speculated knack for injuries.

Either way, the sophomore outfielder is back for the Braves, and with an aging Chipper Jones in and out of the lineup, the Braves need Heyward more than ever.

Team him up with hot hitting Brian McCann and you'll have a serious one-two punch.

Baltimore Orioles

*Brian Matusz Repeat*

If you were to look at Brian Matusz' numbers from the second half of 2010, you'd think there was no way the Baltimore Orioles can win down the stretch this year without him.

Well, you're 100 percent correct.

Matusz posted a 7-3 record with a solid 3.63 ERA through 14 games over the second half of 2010.

He entered this season as Baltimore's staff ace, but after an injury-riddled start, Matusz has been a shell of his former self.

With the lefty on the sidelines, rookie Zach Britton has taken over as the Orioles No. 1 guy, but he's due to either hit a late season wall or get his innings limited in his first MLB season.

This leaves the door wide open for Matusz.

If the Orioles are even thinking about grabbing a wild-card spot from an AL powerhouse, they're going to need Matusz to pitch like everyone's been waiting for him to do.

Boston Red Sox

*Saving Papelbon's Season*

The Boston Red Sox continue to look like the best team in baseball.

They've got some of the best hitting in the MLB, featuring Adrian Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury.

They've got some of the best starting pitching in the American League, featuring Josh Beckett, John Lester, and Clay Buchholz.

But wait, do they have a closer?

This is where it gets interesting.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon has been the main guy in Boston over the past five years, averaging nearly 38 saves and a sub-2.00 ERA every season.

However, 2011 has not been kind to Paps.

He's only managed to lock in 13 saves, posting a 4.03 ERA while giving up too many big hits.

This is easily the biggest concern for the Red Sox heading into July and so on.

They've got to figure how to fix Papelbon as soon as possible.  Not only to fight off the New York Yankees from taking over first place in the AL East, but everybody knows that a consistent closer is needed for serious playoff runs.

With Daniel Bard on deck, the clock is ticking for the once elite ninth-inning option.

Chicago Cubs

*Planning for Pujols*

The Chicago Cubs are currently 14 games below .500, so they've pretty much clocked out of the 2011 season.

Cubs management needs to start planning for the future, and that future is Albert Pujols wearing blue and white.

Chicago has a few options on their hands.

They could decide to trade impending free-agent Aramis Ramirez, find a way to attract teams to Ryan Dempster and his 2012 player option, or they could sit back and wait for the MVP first baseman to climb into their arms.

It's been highly speculated that Pujols himself would be interested in an in-division club mix up, moving from the St. Lois Cardinals to the rival Cubbies.

At this point in the season, Pujols and his health is not only waning on the minds of Cardinals fans, but also the pockets of Cubs management.

Chicago White Sox

*Are They Dunn?*

Adam Dunn needs to start hitting for the Chicago White Sox.

After signing him this offseason in the hopes of translating his 40 home run power to the American League, Dunn has done anything but launch the ball out of the park.

The 31-year-old DH is hitting a career-worst .176, on pace for another career low with 14 home runs.

Dunn is more than capable of breaking his subpar stride anytime soon, and the White Sox desperately need that to happen.

Currently trailing the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians in the AL Central, Chicago needs to up their efforts for manager Ozzie Guillen going forward in the season.

Alex Rios needs to hit, John Danks needs to win games on a more consistent basis, and of course, Adam Dunn needs to hit for power.

If Dunn resurfaces, the White Sox will have a legitimate chance to win the division.

Cincinnati Reds

*What to do With Chapman*

O where, o where do the Cincinnati Reds put Aroldis Chapman?

Does he belong in the starting rotation or back in the bullpen?

How about both?

The Reds could use Chapman as a starter if he promises to keep his fastball below 100 mph because once it breaks that mark, the young flame thrower becomes more wild than Rick Vaughn himself.

If they decide to put him back in the bullpen, there's going to be a lot of questions about how good he can get without consistent work.

Manager Dusty Baker is going to make a snap decision quickly.

Starter Homer Bailey is on his way back, but he's been erratic during rehab, and the Reds haven't really been equipped with any solid starting pitchers this year besides Johnny Cueto.

So where do they use Chapman?

This is the million dollar question.  One that can make or break Cincinnati's chances to repeat as division champs.

Cleveland Indians

*Travis Hafner's Playing Time*

Has anybody seen what Travis Hafner is doing in Cleveland?

The guy who apparently can't even throw a baseball is starting to revamp his career for the breakout Cleveland Indians.

Even considering Hafner hasn't played much over the past week because of interleague play, he's been one of the most consistent hitters in the MLB.

Through 130 at-bats, the DH is hitting .341 with seven home runs and 29 RBI, striking out only 30 times to his 16 walks.

He's become an instant upgrade for the Indians since coming back from the DL on June 17th.

Following next week, Cleveland will only have American League games from there on out, offering Hafner the chance to play fives times a week.

That might be enough playing time to help the Indians outduel the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central title.

Colorado Rockies

*Ubaldo Jimenez Rebound*

Ubaldo Jimenez pitched well on Friday against the New York Yankees, providing the Colorado Rockies with hope that he'll return to pitching like a sure fire MLB ace.

Jimenez won 19 games for the Rockies in 2010, sporting a sub-3.00 ERA and 200-plus innings and strikeouts.

Luckily for Jimenez and Colorado, sophomore pitcher Jhoulys Chacin has emerged as a top 20 option in the National League, helping his team win without their best defensive threat.

Whether or not Chacin continues his dominance, the team needs their ace.

Jimenez could be coming around.

He's allowed a total of seven runs over his last 26.1 innings of work, creating some buzz of a comeback.

If the Rockies intend to be in the chase come late-September, Jimenez has to reclaim his status as, "that dude on Colorado who throws 100 mph."

Detroit Tigers

*Justin Verlander, Then Who?*

The Detroit Tigers are going to have to find another starting pitcher who can win games for the team.

Justin Verlander has obviously done his job since he's the potential AL Cy Young front-runner.

Fellow starter Max Scherzer has been pretty good thus far in 2011, going 9-3 with 83 strikeouts.

The problem is, Scherzer's ERA is pushing 5.00, and his recent lack of success has the Tigers worried.

If they were to make a serious run for not only the division but the playoffs, their offense is going to need some complimentary pitching.

Everyone knows that pitching wins championships.  It's sort of the NBA defense of baseball.

The problem is, Detroit doesn't have many in-house answers.

Rick Porcello once looked like Verlander's counterpart, but that ship is starting to sail.

Phil Coke and Brad Penny have been way too inconsistent to trust even in the regular season, let alone the playoffs.

It's starting to look like the Tigers need to trade for a solidified No. 2 starting pitcher.

But at this point, it's anyone's guess for who and if management would even pull that trigger.

Florida Marlins

*Josh Johnson*

Josh Johnson is the key for the Florida Marlins' chances of making the playoffs.

He'd be the key for any team in the MLB, but it just so happens to be that he resides in Florida.

Johnson has been sidelined with shoulder inflammation for over a month and has about another four weeks before he can think about returning.

That is a very long time to play ball while missing your best pitcher, but the Marlins have handled it very well.

Some would say that Hanley Ramirez is the main concern going forward, but Florida has done well for themselves all year without their best offensive threat.

It seemingly all comes down to Johnson.

The 27-year-old left with a 3-1 record and a 1.64 ERA, striking out 56 in 60 innings of work.

In 2010, Johnson showcased why he's become a top 15 pitcher in the MLB and missing him has surely cost the Marlins many deserving series.

His return will ultimately spark an all-out melee between the Marlins, Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East throne.

Houston Astros

*Winning*

There's no main concern or piece to the puzzle for the Houston Astros, just keep winning and stay healthy while doing so.

With that said, I think we can agree that the Astros are universally out of contention with their 28-50 record.

However, it is the MLB, and winning every game counts.

Houston could prove to be a serious playoff spoiler come September, making it hard for division rivals St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers.

Regardless of their record and playoff chances, Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence have played like true All-Stars.

I guess those are the only two good things the team can take away from the first three months of the season.

Kansas City Royals

*Starting Pitching*

The Kansas City Royals have hitting.

Rookies Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas have come on great for the Royals and have helped teammates Jeff Francoeur and Billy Butler turn the 2011 season around, offensively.

However, what was once a .500 ball club early in the year has tailed off into a 32-45 AL Central record.

Kansas City is currently second to last in team ERA with a 4.60 mark, not to mention their usual shutdown closer Joakim Soria has been an absolutely train wreck through the first two months.

The Royals also rank the worst in the league with a .272 opponent's batting average, instantly turning their solid offensive into a stagnant outcome.

If Kansas City wants to make their rookies' first season a smashing success, getting some consistent starting pitching wouldn't hurt.

Los Angeles Angels

*Making a Trade*

As far as I'm concerned, the Los Angeles Angels are the epitome of an on-the-fence team.

Bottom line, they need to make a trade at the deadline.

The Angels have accumulated 39 wins thus far in 2011, good for second place in the division.

With one of the best pitching duos in the league, Jered Weaver and Dan Haren, L.A. has become an instant contender down the stretch.

However, their offense has played fairly inconsistently, offering little power and offensive leadership in the middle of the order.

Vernon Wells has been an absolute bust, Torii Hunter is finally showing signs of old age and the Angels continue to show symptoms of Kendry Morales sickness.

But don't count them out just yet. 

With a solid starting staff, Jordan Walden coming on as a quality closer, and an always competitive manager in Mike Scioscia, the Angels are a trade away from becoming a serious threat.

Jose Reyes, Prince Fielder and Aramis Ramirez all make good cases to rescue this offense, but are the Angels truly ready to trade away highly touted prospect Mike Trout?

It's either win now or win later.

Los Angeles Dodgers

*Avoiding a Fire Sale*

There's no end in sight for the Los Angeles Dodgers and their ownership troubles.

Do they trade away everybody or just the high profile guys?

How much value does Matt Kemp possess and are the Dodgers really ready to part ways with the potential MVP?

There are many questions revolving around the Dodgers, too many if you ask manager Don Mattingly

Mattingly's first season as a MLB coach as been relatively disastrous, with too much publicity and too many on-field struggles.

James Loney has played absolutely awful, Chad Billingsley seems to have lost his step, Jonathan Broxton is finally falling apart and the team is nearly 10 games below .500.

If there was ever a time to figure out your true identity, the time is now Los Angeles.

Are you a team who's going to trade away your top five players?

Or are you a team that's going to stick it out and try to makes things happen in-house?

For the Dodgers, their biggest concern going forward is deciding to abandon ship or sink with it.

Milwaukee Brewers

*Keeping Fielder Focused*

There's one and only one concern for the Milwaukee Brewers heading into the next few months.

Keep Prince Fielder focused on baseball and not his 2012 contract.

Just as it was foretold by the baseball gods, Fielder is playing his very best during a contract year.

Surprising?

The 27-year-old first baseman is on pace for 40-plus home runs, 130-plus RBI and a career high .300-plus average.

He's become one of the most feared hitters in baseball once again, proving that his 2009 numbers were no hoax.

Milwaukee needs to maintain control over their bulky All-Star because losing himself in contract talks and money poaching could ultimately result in the team's playoff demise.

Ryan Braun is settled in for a career year, Yovani Gallardo and Zack Greinke are a reputable pitching duo and the Brewers are currently keeping pace with the St. Louis Cardinals for the division lead.

If I was Milwaukee, I'd change nothing and keep Fielder as happy as possible, even if that includes a Barry Bonds private locker.

Minnesota Twins

*Healthy Stars*

Here we go again.

The Minnesota Twins have yet again lost one of their elite stars by watching Justin Morneau get ready for neck surgery in the next few days, ultimately sidelining the former MVP for the next six weeks.

The Twins just got back Joe Mauer from the 60-day DL, so losing J-Mo so soon after has been devastating.

Over the past two weeks, Minnesota has clawed their way back to eight games out of first place, looking like their early season woes were finally over.

However, after losing a play of Morneau's caliber for the next two months, the team has yet again found themselves digging out of their own hole.

Also considering that Mauer hasn't really produced at all since he's been back, the Twins offense is in dyer straits.

Don't even think about Minnesota as a contender until they get healthy and superstar driven.

New York Mets

*Johan Santana and Keeping Jose Reyes*

The New York Mets may be the most interesting team to talk about going forward in the season.

For all the injuries and inconsistent play they've encountered through the first three months, it's a near miracle that they're only two games below .500.

One of the biggest reasons is Jose Reyes.

Reyes is easily the best Mets player heading into July and has actually cemented himself as the second-most sought after trade option, right behind Prince Fielder.

Keeping the All-Star shortstop is going to be the sole factor in picturing the Mets as late-season contenders.

If they have enough trust in Reyes to re-sign with the team in the offseason and keep him around, then the burden of the season would fall on pitcher Johan Santana.

A lot of people have forgot about Santana, but the fact remains that the former Mets ace still possess enough ability to be the teams best starting option.

He'd due back sometime in July, more likely towards the ends, allowing New York to focus all their attention on retaining Reyes.

New York Yankees

*Phil Hughes and Bullpen*

The New York Yankees need starting pitching.

That's the way it's been for years, and it's the biggest concern for the Bronx Bombers moving forward in 2011.

C.C. Sabathia and Bartolo Colon, surprisingly, have been the only two reliable starters for manager Joe Girardi, while A.J. Burnett and Freddy Garcia continue to struggle with consistency.

The bullpen has been up and down as well, with the absence of reliable relievers Joba Chamberlain and Rafael Soriano.

However, the Yankees should still be able to lock down late-inning games because they still possess one of the best clutch closers in the game with Mariano Rivera.

New York's biggest question mark over the next few months is whether their starting pitchers can produce well enough to setup Rivera and the bullpen.

That's where Phil Hughes steps in.

The 24-year-old is due back in less than two weeks after pitching well through a few minor league starts.

Everyone saw what Hughes can do when he's pitching at his best, cementing himself as a top 20 starter in the beginning of 2010.

Can the Yankees position themselves for a playoff run with their current squad, without Hughes?

Sure. 

Their offense is too good to not get them in contention, however, pitching is going to be the key for one of baseball's most successful teams keeping that earned title.

Oakland Athletics

*Brett Anderson*

Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez are a dominant one-two punch, but the Oakland Athletics are in desperate need of their three-headed monster.

That's exactly the reason why Brett Anderson's return is weighing heavy on the team's season success.

With Anderson, Oakland has one of the best starting trios in the MLB, helping them set up for a late-season playoff run.

The problem here is that the 23-year-old and his medical advisers have absolutely no idea of a timetable for his return to the big leagues.

Anderson narrowly escaped Tommy John surgery, which would of sidelined him until late in the 2012 season, so the Athletics are going to be extremely cautious in getting their young hurler back from the DL.

It will all depend on how his rehab goes and how his left elbow will hold up under the pressure of 100 pitches come game time.

Oakland needs to hope for the best because they have one of the worst offensive attacks in the league  which makes Anderson's healthy return that more detrimental to the team's winning chances.

Philadelphia Phillies

*Bullpen*

The Philadelphia Phillies don't have too many problems.

That was clearly going to be the case after they acquired Cliff Lee in the offseason.

Lee and Roy Halladay have pitched masterfully, allowing the Phillies to get over an early season Chase Utley injury.

What makes it even more scary for their National League opponents, Lee and Halladay have arguably not been the team's best pitching assets.

It's been Cole Hamels, who is currently 9-3 with a 2.51 ERA.

But with all that pitching success, Philadelphia's bullpen has struggled to find a true identity for late-inning closing.

Jose Contreras was decent to say the most when he was the guy in control, but even he's out for the next four to six weeks.

Ryan Madsen has been a good option in late game situations, but he's also been hobbled with a bum hand for the last week or so.

Now manager Charlie Manuel has turned to two inexperienced relievers in Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes to platoon as Philadelphia's closers.

If Madsen needs to recover on the disabled list, you might start to see the Phillies drop some close games in the next two weeks.

The good news?

Brad Lidge is due back sometime around the All-Star break.

Pittsburgh Pirates

*Contending Until the End*

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in unfamiliar territory with their mid-season record, 39-37, so it's going to be interesting to watch how they handle the pressure heading into July.

After starting out hot, their starting pitching has started to spiral just a little bit, especially Paul Maholm and Charlie Morton.

However, Andrew McCutchen has lived up to his hype, Neil Walker is on pace for 100-plus RBI, and Joel Hanrahan has arguably been the best closer in baseball.

But once again, the problem is going to lie in the team's mindset and winning mentality as we inch closer to the playoffs.

They're right there in the NL Central, which is still weird to say, currently three games out of first place.

And it looks like the Pirates aren't going away quietly considering they rank ninth in the MLB in pitching and have complimentary offensive production.

It's only a matter of time before we see Pittsburgh either sink or swim, so hold onto your hats and enjoy the ride.

San Diego Padres

*Anthony Rizzo*

San Diego needs hitting, it's no secret.

They needed offensive help when Adrian Gonzalez was in town and need even more rescuing now that he's in an entirely different league.

That's where rookie Anthony Rizzo comes into play, at least that's what the Padres were hoping for.

Rizzo was an absolute beast in the minor leagues this year, compiling nearly 20 home runs and a .365 average through 200 at-bats.

But with his recent struggles at the major league level, batting .190 with one home run in nearly 50 at-bats, you'd think he's simply overhyped.

For San Diego's case, they're hoping he turns it around quickly and boosts their lackluster offense because the team has some serious pitching that can't go to waste.

The Padres success depends on Rizzo's big league adaption.

If he comes around, they'll contend in the NL West.

If not, it'll be yet another year that their offense ruins their playoff opportunities.

San Francisco Giants

*Panda Power*

After losing Buster Posey early in the season on a controversial home-plate collision, the San Francisco Giants have been left to pick up the pieces.

Posey provided a well-needed offensive stability, so his absence going forward in the season could make or break the Giants chances of making the playoffs.

San Fran is currently in first place, but the Arizona Diamondback and Colorado Rockies aren't going anywhere.

If the team is going to hold off their division rivals, they're going to need Pablo Sandoval's bat.

Sandoval is currently hitting .282 with five home runs in limited at-bats this season, but he possesses so much potential for some serious production.

With the pitching that the Giants have, hitting is easily their weakest leak, which makes it more important that they find an immediate cure before it's too late.

Panda needs to power up.  It's as simple as that.

Seattle Mariners

*Pacing Pineda*

For the Seattle Mariners, winning is going to be harder than hitting.

They've easily showcased one of the worst offensive attacks in the MLB which could partially be associated with Ichiro Suzuki's unexpected season struggles.

Even considering Seattle recently called up second baseman Dustin Ackley, who serves as one of the best prospects in all of the baseball, their run producing tendencies are second worst in the entire league.

Going forward, their best chance of winning and maintaining their .500 record pace is going to be keeping rookie pitcher Michael Pineda healthy and stretched out.

Pineda is on pace for a career high with 200 innings, putting him way above his expected production for his first year in the MLB.

The Mariners are going to baby their young hurler for sure, but keeping him around until late September could be the difference in making an AL West surge or giving in to the power hitting Texas Rangers.

St. Louis Cardinals

*Duhhh*

This is pretty obvious. 

The St. Louis Cardinals need Albert Pujols healthy and back in time for the 2011 playoffs.

Without him, they have a very slim chance in even playing in October, let alone winning the whole thing.

Pujols' absence has created a huge cloud over St. Louis head with so much media coverage and contract discussions to go along with it.

He's arguably the most valued player in all of baseball, so it's fairly easy to sit here and say he's going to be missed.

But with the year the Cardinals are having with season-ending Tommy John surgery for Adam Wainwright and the career-low year for Chris Carpenter, hitting is the key to everything.

And when you have the your best hitter out of the lineup for the next month-and-half, things are going to get tough.

The sooner Pujols can return, the sooner Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman get back their lineup protection.

Tampa Bay Rays

*Consistent Hitting*

The Tampa Bay Rays need consistency up and down their lineup.

With James Shields and David Price putting on a two-man show week in and week out, Tampa Bay is left to figure out how to produce for both pitchers.

The two biggest factors in doing so, Evan Longoria and B.J Upton.

Does anyone remember the dominance these two showed a few years ago in the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox?

Well, it's very possible that both guys can catch fire quickly and repeat that kind of late-season production.

Johnny Damon has played well, Ben Zobrist has bounce backed from a disappointing 2010 campaign and Matt Joyce has come on as a solid role player.

With that said, the success of the Rays going forward is going to depend on the output they get from a healthy Longoria and Upton who has recently found his power stroke.

Let's face it, if their offense comes along, then Tampa Bay is relatively unbeatable anytime that Shields or Price take the mound.

Texas Rangers

*Fixing Feliz"

What's the deal with Neftali Felix?

After producing like a top five closer in 2010, the 23-year-old has converted only 14 saves with a 3.21 ERA.

He's on pace for 11 less saves and 30 less strikeouts from last year.

Now while he's still young and talented enough to rejoin the higher ranked ninth-inning options in the MLB, some are still wondering if the Texas Rangers offseason discussion about making him a starter is still effecting Feliz.

Going forward, the Rangers are going to use their explosive hitting and 14th ranked pitching to win games in the AL West.

But it's not going to be a cake walk if they don't have their elite closer.

As far as I'm concerned, if Feliz can start to strike guys out at the high pace he's accustomed to, Texas will have no problem making another serious playoff run in 2011.

Toronto Blue Jays

*Two-Man Show*

While it's very glamorous to see the two-man show that Jose Bautista and Adam Lind are putting on for the Toronto Blue Jays, it could also be held responsible for their inevitable demise.

Bautista and Lind have been one of the best hitting duos in the MLB, hitting for a high average and sometimes unmatchable power.

But their effect on the Blue Jays winning success is going to fade out very quickly.

Bottom line, the team needs depth.

Whether it's a hot streak from catcher J.P. Arencibia, a mid-season resurgence from Aaron Hill, or the big league call-up of highly respected prospect Brett Lawrie, who's currently out with a fractured hand, the Blue Jays need to speed things up and do it quickly.

With an already questionable five-man rotation, except Ricky Romero, Toronto's offense can't afford to become suspect.

Teams could very well decide to start walking Bautista and Lind back-to-back.

Well...maybe not, but the teams needs some immediate offensive help.

Washington Nationals

*Catching The Division*

The Washington Nationals are starting to remind me of the Tampa Bay Rays from a few years ago, finally using their youth and in-house talent to climb out of the depths of the MLB.

The Nationals are currently one game above .500, winning eight out of their last 10.

Jordan Zimmerman is pitching like a madman, Mike Morse is one of the hottest hitters in baseball, Ryan Zimmerman is back healthy and Danny Espinosa looks like the best power hitting second baseman in the NL.

Everything looks to be in order.

That's assuming Washington doesn't trade Jason Marquis and R. Zimmerman can get back to his All-Star ways.

The main focus going forward for the Nationals is simple, catch Philadelphia.

While they've played some of the best baseball since coming to Washington, they're still 8.5 games out of first place.

Win some close divisional games, keep up the good work and then come talk to me in September.

I'll be rooting on the whole time.