With Major League Baseball's perennial sluggers just digging in, with their big bats finally coming around as the season's second quarter begins, we have been treated to the feats of several players who have unexpectedly captured the pastime's attention.
While playing for the Colorado Rockies, who sit in the cellar of the National League West, arguably one of the least competitive divisions in all of baseball, shortstop Clint Barmes has not let it get him down. Presently leading both the National and American leagues as of May 18th in batting average which has remained just shy of .380, Barmes also enjoys a slugging percentage of .597 with 58 hits. He also achieved a 12-game hitting streak in mid-May.
Thus far, Barmes' first full year in the big leagues has been nothing but gravy for him, now hitting in the two-hole, with no unusual expectations put upon him. His fielding could be cleaned up a bit, however, leading all shortstops in both leagues with 8 errors. Prognosticators are smarter than to start making predictions of future successes, however, when a rookie is involved, but for now, we can look forward for the 26-year-old to get even better.
Similarly to Barmes, Brian Roberts, second baseman for the American League East leading Baltimore Orioles, is enjoying his second full big league season and has been on fire since Opening Day. He has largely been Baltimore's catalyst while hitting at the top of the order, and he has raised more than a few eyebrows. Roberts is at the top of the charts in batting average in the American League at .372, with 11 home runs and a .659 slugging percentage. He is only being outshined by players such as teammate Miguel Tejada and Yankee Alex Rodriguez who dominate with power.
Unlike Barmes, however, Roberts enjoys the pleasure of playing on a contending club, which has been a surprise as well. And given that the Orioles have benefited from the slow starts of both the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, they'll take it any way they can get it. With 13 stolen bases, Roberts has now filled the roll of a pesky table setter who can also utilize the whole field with some pop in his bat, as well. His on base percentage stands at .455.
Roberts is a welcome addition to the Oriole lineup, giving it a new dynamic that gives confidence to the front office in having stuck with him while trading former second baseman Jerry Hairston to the Cubs in the Sammy Sosa trade. As a switch-hitter, Roberts set a Major League record in 2004 with 52 doubles, so his talent was already bubbling down under. Even if the Orioles don't turn out to be to the real deal, we can still look forward to the rest of Roberts' journey this season.
Another up and comer who has also enjoyed early and consistent success is White Sox pitcher Jon Garland. As the fifth starter in a rotation in which he was a mere afterthought, he is 8-0, with a 2.41 ERA and has allowed only 10 walks on the season. Not only is Garland the first starter to get to eight wins in the major leagues, but he is still riding the crest of no losses so far. He becomes the first White Sox pitcher to win his first eight games since John Whitehead did so in 1935.
Due to his early success, there has even been speculation about Garland's shot at winning 30 games in 2005. Roger Clemens, last year's National League Cy Young Award winner, also had an incredible first half in 2004, and the same was postulated then. But getting in an average of 40 starts in this day and age in order to most probably wind up with 30 wins is improbable with a five-man rotation and with middle relievers used more and more. The last 30-game winner was Detroit's Denny McClain in 1968 when he went 31-6 with 28 complete games.
With the Chicago White Sox enjoying the best record in MLB thus far this season, it largely has hinged upon the success of their rotation, which has overachieved. Garland is the anchor in a rotation headed up by Mark Buehrle, who is 7-1 with a 3.33 ERA. Orlando "El Duqué" Hernandez follows with a 5-1 record and a 3.91 ERA. José Contreras has surprised with 3.52 ERA after his problems finding the plate with the New York Yankees for most of 2004 before being traded. Freddy Garcia also enjoys an ERA under 4.0 as he also tries to resurrect his career after coming over from the Seattle Mariners.
And speaking of Roger Clemens, as long as he continues to dominate with his pitching with the major league's best ERA of 1.19 amongst starting pitchers, we must include him as players to continue to watch, if only because of his longevity. Every time he steps out on the mound, records are being broken. And given the fact that the Houston Astros have provided no run support for Clemens with an error-riddled defense behind him, it is amazing that his ERA is as low as it is. He also is fourth in the National League in strikeouts and looks as dominant, if not more so than he did last year when earning his seventh Cy Young. It will be a shame, however, if he decides to ride it out in Houston if they do not continue to improve, as the Rocket has been noted to pride himself on wins even more so than individual statistics.
So as the heat is turned up on the way to the All-Star Break we have been treated to some individuals' performances, which may or may not turn out to be factors in the overall success of their teams this season. But ultimately, our national pastime will continue to prevail not just from good team competition, but also because of the welcome and unpredictable performances of a select few.
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