Even if your favorite team is out of the race, there is still a lot to keep you interested as the 2012 MLB season winds down. Here are just a few things that BBRT will be watching for outside of the Division and Wild Card races and post-season competition. (Stats includes games through September 19.)
Will the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen save MLB the embarrassment of having the Giants’ Melky Cabrera – serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for testosterone – win the batting title?
The suspended Cabrera is one plate appearance short of the 502 needed to qualify for the batting title. MLB rules say a player short of the plate-appearance requirement can still win the batting crown if you add the necessary plate appearances as outs (in this case, just one) and their average would still lead the league. The addition would leave Cabrera’s average at .346. McCutchen is hitting .340. BBRT says, “Go Andy, go!”
BBRT likes this M. Cabrera.
Can the good Cabrera – Miguel – become the 16th player and first since 1967 to win the Triple Crown?
Currently, Cabrera leads the AL in average at .333; RBI at 130; and trails Josh Hamilton in home runs 42 to 41. BBRT is rooting for this Cabrera.
Who will win theAL batting crown?
The top contenders seem to be:
– The Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera at .333 (shooting for the triple crown);
– The Angels’ Mike Trout at .327 (working to become just the sixth rookie batting champ and only the third since 1900);
– The Twins’ Joe Mauer at .324 (who would become the only catcher to win four batting titles – he’s already the only catcher with three);
– The Yankees’ Derek Jeter at .322 (looking to add a batting title to his Hall of Fame career.)
Can surprising knuckleballer R.A. Dickey of the Mets become only the second pitcher in MLB history to win a Cy Young Award with a last place team?
Dickey currently sits at 18-6, 2.67 with five complete games, three shutouts and 205 Ks for the 66-82 Mets (just one game out of the NL East basement). First, of course, Dickey has to keep winning while the Mets lose their way to the bottom of the standings. Then, Dickey has to beat out another surprising hurler, the National’s Gio Gonzalez, 19-8, 2.95, with two complete games, one shutout and 196 Ks. Coming into this season, these two Cy Young candidates had a combined record of 82-87 (Dickey … 41-50 over nine seasons; Gonzalez … 41-37 over four seasons.)
The only Cy Young Award winner ever on a last place team? Steve Carlton in 1972. Carlton went 27-10, 1.97, with 30 complete games, eight shutouts and 310 Ks for the 59-91 Phillies.
Will the Pirates break their 19-year under-.500 streak?
The last time the Pirates finished above .500 was in 1992, when they won the NL East with a 96-66 record (their third straight NL East title). This year, the Pirates were 16 games over .500 on July 28. Since that time, they have fallen to 74-74. BBRT is hoping the Pirates break their streak of futility.
Will Chipper Jones finish with a flourish?
In his last season, the future Hall of Famer is likely to see post-season action with the Braves (who appear headed for a Wild Card slot). BBRT looks forward to watching Chipper close out the season – and then seeing some post-season Chipper. The forty-year-old Jones is having a solid final season: .297, 14 HRs, 60 RBI in 102 games.
Will Detroit’s Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander become the first two pitchers from the same team to finish 1 & 2 in strikeouts (in their league) since the Cubs’ Kerry Wood and Mark Prior in 2003? (The last time it was done in the AL was by the Angels Nolan Ryan and Frank Tanana in 1976).’
Currently, Scherzer leads the AL in Ks with 224, with Verlander second at 223. Next is Seattle’s Felix Hernandez at 207.
How many pitchers will achieve 20 wins this season?
Four hurlers seem to have a good shot at the 20-win club. Gio Gonzalez of the Nationals (currently at 19); R.A. Dickey of the Mets (18); David Price of the Rays (18); and Jered Weaver of the Angels (18). It will be the first 20-win season for any of this quartet who make it.
Will the Nationals activate Strasburg for the playoffs?
Big question. BBRT would, but that’s kind of “old school.”
Will Roger Clemens take the mound for the Astros before season end?
BBRT hopes not. But, it might sell some tickets. And,so it delays his Hall of Fame eligibility for five years? There are probably bigger concerns in that area.
BBRT loves this gentleman slugger.
Will the Orioles get Jim Thome back in the line-up?
BBRT hopes this gentleman gets a chance to help the Orioles and add to his 611 career home runs.
