Bleacher Report - Articles by Matt Kelly

Kings of the Hill: The Top Five Pitchers in Major League Baseball

Matt Kelly — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:46:19 -0500

These are the pitchers who I think are the top five pitchers in Major League Baseball. You may have other opinions. Please post what you think....

1. Josh Beckett

Beckett has a great array of pitches, a solid player, and hardly makes a mistake. What more can you ask for in a pitcher?

Not much. He won the World Series in 2003 with the Florida Marlins virtually single handedy. Then, in 2007, he helped the Boston Red Sox to their second championship in four years. Beckett is a clutch pitcher and deserves to be number one.

2. Johan Santana

Obviously the best pitcher in baseball but, after a poor 2007 season, Santana has dropped to number two.

He played on a struggling Twins team last season, but now has signed a six-year $139 million contract with the Mets after being traded from Minnesota for four prospects.

Santana leads the league in strikeouts almost every season. He is number one, but drops to number two after a poor season.

3. Jake Peavy

Probably one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in the National League. But Beckett and Santana would outduel him.

One reason for Peavy lack of dominance is when he leaves the game. Even with one of the best bullpens in the league, they gave up leads in the late innings.

If this were a National League top pitchers list, Peavy would definitely be number one or two.

4. Roy Halladay

Everytime Roy goes out to pitch you can almost garuntee a solid outing. He plays in the hardest division in baseball the AL East. He has to face the Yankees and Red Sox several times a year, Toronto's bullpen just cant handle the pressure and folds.

If Toronto trades Halladay to a different ball club, which I think they should do, then they would get a lot of young talent.

5. C.C. Sabathia

Probably the second best lefty in the league. If it wasn't for Santana, Sabathia would be the best in the league.

He is a big guy that provides an awesome fastball with some speed. The Indians went pretty far this season and almost made it to the World Series.

The combination of C.C. and Fausto Carmona will be a definite threat for American League ball clubs for many years to come.

Those are my top five pitchers. If you have any objections, please post them with courteousness, thanks.

Pau Gasol Headed to Los Angeles Lakers

Matt Kelly — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:06:33 -0500

The Los Angeles Lakers have traded for Memphis Grizzlies center Pau Gasol. The Lakers gave up center Kwame Brown and point guard Javaris Crittenton, along with two future first round picks.

Gasol will fill in until center Andrew Bynum returns. If you ask me, that is a lot to give up for someone who is filling in.

However, the Lakers do need a big man in the paint. Brown was just not cutting it.

After Bynum returns, Pau will move over to the power forward position.

The Lakers gave up a promising young point guard for Gasol, but the Lakers are looking to win now, not in the future.

Gasol will help the Lakers in the playoffs and maybe even win a championship; something he couldn’t do with Memphis.

My Take on the Yankees and Red Sox

Matt Kelly — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:55:25 -0500

I have decided to take the time to compare the position players and pitchers of the Red Sox and Yankees.

First Base:
Red Sox: Kevin Youkilis
Yankees: Undecided; Shelley Duncan or Johnny Damon

Obviously, the Red Sox win at first base. Youk is a great fielder and rarely strikes out. On the Yankees side, they have no clue who will play there.

Second Base:
Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia
Yankees: Robinson Cano

This one is a close one. Pedroia was awsome in the playoffs, and Cano was good in the regular season when he wasnt injured. It is really a toss up. Pedroia may have been a one time thing. My pick here is Cano.

Shortstop:
Red Sox: Julio Lugo
Yankees: Derek Jeter

Well, there is no competition here. Obviously, it is the great Derek Jeter. He is always the most clutch, and he is probably one of the top three shortstops. No question here it's Derek Jeter.

Third Base:
Red Sox: Mike Lowell
Yankees: Alex Rodriguez

A-rod was obviously the best player in MLB last year, but Lowell had a great post-season. My pick here would have to be Rodriguez.

Lowell is getting older, and, while A-rod isn't the youngest, he still delivers. I'm not saying that Lowell doesn't deliver. I just believe that A-Rod will have a better season.

Left Field:
Red Sox: Manny Ramirez
Yankees: Hideki Matsui

Well, Manny is one of the best outfielders in the game. He hits and leads the league in outfield assists consistently. Without a doubt, it's Man Ram.

Center Field:
Red Sox: Undecided
Yankees: Undecided

Well, it looks like this one is a toss up. The Yankees don't know if Melky Cabrera or Johnny Damon will end up there. The same problem exists for the Red Sox; Coco Crisp or Jacoby Ellsbury. My descision is undecided because I don't know who will play.

Right Field:
Red Sox: J.D. Drew
Yankees: Bobby Abreu

Last season, J.D. Drew was up and down last season. Abreu was a little more consistent. This one is kind of a toss up, too, but I would have to go with Abreu.

Catcher:
Red Sox: Jason Varitek
Yankees: Jorge Posada

Both are phenominal catchers. Jorge is a little more offensive, and Tek is more of the defensive type. Both had awesome seasons last year, but I would have to go with Posada in this case. His offense will help the Yankees with their pitching struggles.

Designated Hitter:
Red Sox: David Ortiz
Yankees: Jason Giambi

If Big Papi's knee is healed, then he may take the homerun crown and the AL MVP. He is a phenomenal hitter that every pitcher is afraid of. Without a doubt I will take David Ortiz.

Starting Pitching:
Red Sox: Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, and Jon Lester
Yankees: Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, Mike Mussina, and Joba Chamberlain/Ian Kennedy

The Red Sox have those expierenced vets, and the Yankees have a mix of vets and young guns. The Sox' starting pitching is more reliable than the young guns of New York, so I would have to take the Sox.

Closer:
Red Sox: Jonathan Papelbon
Yankees: Mariano Rivera

The Bo Sox have that young and fiery guy, and the Yanks have that calm, no pressure vet. If I would have to choose, I would take the young and fiery guy, because he will be around a lot longer to save more games. I see Pap earning the most saves in MLB this season.

Managers:
Red Sox: Terry Francona
Yankees: Joe Girardi

Obviously, with Girardi being a young and new manager, Francona takes it. He has won two of the last three World Series.

That's how I compared the two teams, and I believe it to be correct.

AL East: No Change in Standings

Matt Kelly — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:25:52 -0500

This season looks like it will be the same in the AL East with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees fighting for supremacy.

The Toronto Blue Jays will finish third and the newly-named Tampa Bay Rays will be fourth, which leaves the Baltimore Orioles at the bottom.

Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz will once again be fighting for the most home runs and Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez for RBIs.

Derek Jeter and Kevin Youkilis will be battling for the East batting-average title, while the stolen-base crown will probably go to Carl Crawford from TB.

Overall, I believe it will be the Red Sox coming out on top. This comes from a Yankee fan, just because the Yanks have a new manager.

Kansas City Royals: Hoping for a Decent Season

Matt Kelly — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:16:21 -0500

The Royals have a ton of young talent and may have a decent year that ends with a finish around 10 games under .500.

They will start out slow because of newly-aquired right fielder Jose Guillen's 15-day suspension.

The Royals need to work on long term contracts to keep names like Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, and all their other young talent in Kansas City.

I have been to many Royals games and I have to say that it is easy to get really good seats, because nobody ever goes to the games, because they have been doing horrible since 2003 when they last had a good season.

We have a new manager coming in this season, so hopefully he will make this team who they should be and not another bottom of the AL Central club.

My prediction for the Royals this season, 72-90—not a good season but not a bad one either.

Missouri Tigers Basketball: It's All Downhill from Here

Matt Kelly — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:01:52 -0500

Yet another Mizzou Basketball season where the Tigers choke.

They need to bring in a new coach; Mike Anderson just isn't cutting it.

As you may have heard, five of Mizzou's top players were suspended. Stephan Hannah, Darryl Butterfield, Jason Horton, Marshall Brown and Leo Lyons were each suspended indefinitely.

Hannah is most likely out for the rest of the season with a broken jaw after getting into a bar fight. The other four were also there during the altercation.

Mizzou is probably going to lose most of their games and will not be a contender in the Big 12.

Losing your best player just devastates your team.

Just imagine if last year, the Longhorns lost Kevin Durant for most of the season, they would have been nothing, or if this year's Kansas State squad lost Michael Beasley. Sure, Walker would be there to help, but Beasley is a key component to that team.

Well, Mizzou is becoming Baylor in the Big 12 and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

If the Tigers fire Mike A then maybe next year we would have a better chance to win some more games. But with him coaching, we will go nowhere.

Cavaliers News: LeBron James Wants Jason Kidd in Cleveland

Matt Kelly — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:51:28 -0500

The Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James made it public that he would like the Cavs to pursue New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd.

Obviously, the Cavs don't have the right players to have make a deal but the only plausible deal I could see coming would be Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Daniel Gibson, and maybe some other players going to the Nets in exchange for Kidd by himself.

Perhaps the Cavs’ first-round draft pick?

Obviously, James cannot carry this team through the playoffs alone again. He needs another superstar to help him. Kidd would be perfect, although many other teams are also perusing him.

The Dallas Mavericks would like him but that would be need for a three team trade involving Portland Trailblazer. Devin Harris (who is hurt) would go to Portland, Jerry Stackhouse would go to New Jersey and Jason Kidd would go to Dallas, and some Portland players would be scattered in there somewhere.

Cleveland would be a good fit for Kidd; he would get tremendous help from James.

Just imagine Cavs fans—two players with a triple double each game. It would be spectacular.

Chiefs: Yet Another Year of Rebuilding in Kansas City

Matt Kelly — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:35:13 -0500

Herm Edwards has been quoted that he has messed up and he wants to start over. In my opinion, I have come to believe that this is all Carl Peterson's doing.

If the Chiefs ever want to have success in the playoffs, they need to get rid of Peterson. He is one of the worst GMs in the NFL.

It seems to me that all he is there for is to get his paycheck and be done with it.

In my opinion, the Chiefs should fire Herm Edwards and sign Marty Schottenheimer, even though I said earlier that we want success in the playoffs, and he has shown that he basically chokes in the playoffs.

Overall, I believe that Peterson should be the one to get booted out. All he wants to do is sign old quarterbacks that will get injured, and Brody Croyle is definitely not a long term solution.

Tony Gonzalez is our best player, not a question there, but he never gets the ball because he is always double or even triple covered because the Chiefs don't have another threat in the passing game.

If I was Tony, I would request that the Chiefs either sign a wide receiver who is a threat or request a trade.