Posted: Wednesday July 30, 2003 1:53 PM
Updated: Thursday July 31, 2003 3:26 AM
SI.com's Ryan Hunt takes a poke at answering a few baseball questions.
BQ
What do the Yankees think of Theo Epstein now?
Armando Benitez has allowed 10 baserunners in six innings since joining the Yankees.
M. David Leeds/Allsport
You know George Steinbrenner is starting to sweat when he's rambling about how the Red Sox "haven't won anything yet" in July. While true at face value, it's difficult to ignore that Boston beat New York in a three-game series after the All-Star break for the first time in four years.
And Theo Epstein is a big reason why. Perhaps it all started with the Jose Contreras sweepstakes this past winter, when the Yankees "won" the right to sign the Cuban right-hander. Epstein and the Sox pretty much went empty-handed in the offseason when it came to landing free agents.
But comparing the AL East rivals' biggest weaknesses -- their bullpens -- Epstein has been able to masterfully overhaul Boston's bullpen, while the Yankees still are using the revolving door.
With the addition of Reds closer Scott Williamson on Tuesday, the Red Sox now have fortified their 'pen with Byung-Hyun Kim and lefty specialist Scott Sauerbeck to build a well-respected committee. The Yankees? With the exception of Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre barely can find anyone he can trust night in and night out.
Look who they've brought in to their staff -- unpredicatble Armando Benitez and 46-year-old Jesse Orosco. The Dan Miceli experiment didn't last long. And they still can't find anyone to get to Rivera with any consistency. Contreras isn't healthy to help out. Chris Hammond? Sterling Hitchcock? Antonio Osuna? Al Reyes? Not the caliber of bullpen you'd expect from the Yankees. That, instead, is being built by the Red Sox.
And it's Epstein, watching Boston trim New York's division lead to only 1 1/2 games, who has put the most pressure on Brian Cashman (from outside, that is) to make some better deals before the deadline. How's that for a turnaround?
BQ
Why are the Braves and Giants scoreboard watching?
Hey, even with 10-game division leads, the Braves and Giants still have a vested interest in the wild-card race. It's going to play a huge role in who has the tougher path to the World Series.
The wild card could very well be a tougher out in the first round than the NL Central champ. The Phillies and Marlins both have better records than the Central-leading Astros. And when you mix the rule that teams from the same division can't play in the wild-card round, it gets real interesting.
If the Phillies or Marlins earn the wild card, it's a huge advantage for the Braves. Seeing the Astros in the playoffs has been akin to seeing "Bye." Atlanta has knocked Houston out of the postseason three times since 1997; the Astros, in fact, have never won a playoff series.
Similarly, the Braves would draw Arizona if the Diamondbacks won the wild card, giving the Giants the weaker NL Central champ. And no matter how you slice it, going up against Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson and emerging rookie Brandon Webb in a five-game series is a tough task.
BQ
Who has the most to gain in the next two months?
If the Twins are ever going to make their move, it's going to be now. Sitting 6 1/2 games behind Kansas City for the AL Central lead -- and 3 1/2 in back of second-place Chicago -- Minnesota has a very favorable schedule to close the season. No more Yankees. No more Red Sox. No more A's. No more Mariners. The Twins' hard work outside of the division is finished.
While the Royals and White Sox still must play each other 12 more times -- not to mention series with the Yankees -- the Twins can make up some serious ground. And fast. Consider the rest of their schedule: 13 with the Tigers, 12 with the Indians, six with the Orioles, Angels and Rangers ... and seven each with the two teams they're chasing, the Royals and White Sox.
The Royals and White Sox are the only teams remaining on the Twins' schedule that are above .500. In fact, the average winning percentage of Minnesota's final 57 opponents is .425. For Chicago, it's .512; for Kansas City, it's .450).
But to win the Central, the Twins still will have to figure out a way to beat the Royals and White Sox consistently. This season, Minnesota is 4-8 vs. Kansas City, 5-7 vs. Chicago. But the rest of the schedule certainly plays into the Twins' hands.
BQ
Who is the bat to watch at the trading deadline?
Why isn't Jose Guillen getting more attention? With the "Everything Must Go" sale now the rage in Cincinnati, the big bat and cannon arm of Guillen will be huge to a contender. So why would the Reds trade him? Well, he's a free agent after the season, and even with the perma-injured Ken Griffey, Guillen still won't have a place in the everyday lineup next season.
Certainly the Reds didn't foresee the 27-year-old's breakout season -- Guillen is third in NL in BA (.337), fourth slugging (.629) and fifth in OPS (1.013) -- when they signed a one-year, non-guaranteed contract Dec. 11. But of all the pieces Cincinnati is dangling, he probably has the most value.
Think the Yankees, who just traded away moody right-fielder Raul Mondesi on Tuesday, would like to see Guillen in pinstripes?
BQ
Have you noticed Angel Berroa yet?
Don't sleep on the 25-year-old Royals shortstop. While Hideki Matsui and Rocco Baldelli continue to get all of the ink in the Rookie of the Year race, Berroa has been a consistent force the past two months. Since batting only .236 in May, Berroa has hit .322 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs since June 1. His numbers across the board (.295-14-50) are as good as, if not better than Baldelli's, who's slowed down since a stellar first two months. And if the Royals go on to win the AL Central, Berroa may have the best case of the trio.
SI.com's Ryan Hunt takes a poke at answering a few baseball questions.
