Facts & Flukes
It appeared in mid-May that the wheels had finally fallen off for Alfonso Soriano (OF, CHC). The former All-Star was batting .230 with nary a home run. But something apparently clicked, and he has been among the NL's hottest bats since then with 12 HRs and a near-.300 average.
Jun 20 2012 11:04pm
Jun 20 2012 11:04pm
Back in the halcyon days of 2010, it was often noted that if Curtis Granderson (OF, NYY) could only hit left-handed pitching, he would break out with a banner campaign. That happened in 2011, and Granderson’s power onslaught continues this year.
Jun 19 2012 11:04pm
Jun 19 2012 11:04pm
Hard to believe that the midpoint of June has passed and Cliff Lee (LHP, PHI) still sports a zero in the win column. Unlike some of his Phillies teammates, there are no concerns about Lee from a skills perspective.
Jun 18 2012 11:04pm
Jun 18 2012 11:04pm
After a career year that finally paired his superior skills with terrific results, James Shields (RHP, TAM) entered 2012 with high expectations. And while he's been effective, Shields hasn't performed as many expected...
Jun 17 2012 11:04pm
Jun 17 2012 11:04pm
In 2010, little-heard-of Andres Torres (OF, NYM) took over the CF job at AT&T Park and provided some surprising offensive punch for San Francisco's playoff run. Two years later, Gregor Blanco (OF, SF) is trying to come from nowhere and fill the same role. And so far he's doing a good Torres impersonation.
Jun 13 2012 11:04pm
Jun 13 2012 11:04pm
When Andy Pettitte (LHP, NYY) walked into the sunset after the 2010 season, it looked like he had ended his career with 240 wins. But retirement apparently didn’t set well with Pettitte, who returned to the mound this spring. Even with a year off, he hasn’t skipped a beat.
Jun 12 2012 11:04pm
Jun 12 2012 11:04pm
Jay Bruce (OF, CIN) entered the season with high expectations—coming off his first 30-HR season, good xBA trend, still just 25—but a .229 May BA raised some questions. But he's back to his old stroke in the first 10 days of June.
Jun 11 2012 11:04pm
Jun 11 2012 11:04pm
In parts of the past three seasons, Michael Brantley (OF, CLE) gave the impression that he is most effective in a platoon role. This season, however, Brantley is showing he may have been shortchanged by this assessment and has taken advantage of fulltime duties...
Jun 10 2012 11:04pm
Jun 10 2012 11:04pm
There are many reasons for the Mets surprising start. On the surface, Dillon Gee (RHP, NYM) isn't one of them. With a 4-3 record and 4.69 ERA, he seems to be charting a similar course to last year. Look deeper, though, and good things are happening.
Jun 6 2012 11:04pm
Jun 6 2012 11:04pm
Whether it was an early slump or a product of the brisk weather of early Spring, it took Dayan Viciedo (OF, CWS) a while to get going. But starting around mid-May, Viciedo has not only been productive, he's been tearing the cover off the ball...
Jun 5 2012 11:04pm
Jun 5 2012 11:04pm
Johan Santana (LHP, NYM) secured his place in Mets history with his no-hitter on Friday night. But even before his stellar outing, Santana had looked fully recovered from the shoulder concerns that kept him out of action in 2011.
Jun 4 2012 11:03pm
Jun 4 2012 11:03pm
It appeared in mid-May that the wheels had finally fallen off for Alfonso Soriano (OF, CHC). The former All-Star was batting .230 with nary a home run. But something apparently clicked, and he has been among the NL's hottest bats since then with 12 HRs and a near-.300 average.
Jun 20 2012 11:04pm
Jun 20 2012 11:04pm
Back in the halcyon days of 2010, it was often noted that if Curtis Granderson (OF, NYY) could only hit left-handed pitching, he would break out with a banner campaign. That happened in 2011, and Granderson’s power onslaught continues this year.
Jun 19 2012 11:04pm
Jun 19 2012 11:04pm
Hard to believe that the midpoint of June has passed and Cliff Lee (LHP, PHI) still sports a zero in the win column. Unlike some of his Phillies teammates, there are no concerns about Lee from a skills perspective.
Jun 18 2012 11:04pm
Jun 18 2012 11:04pm
After a career year that finally paired his superior skills with terrific results, James Shields (RHP, TAM) entered 2012 with high expectations. And while he's been effective, Shields hasn't performed as many expected...
Jun 17 2012 11:04pm
Jun 17 2012 11:04pm
In 2010, little-heard-of Andres Torres (OF, NYM) took over the CF job at AT&T Park and provided some surprising offensive punch for San Francisco's playoff run. Two years later, Gregor Blanco (OF, SF) is trying to come from nowhere and fill the same role. And so far he's doing a good Torres impersonation.
Jun 13 2012 11:04pm
Jun 13 2012 11:04pm
When Andy Pettitte (LHP, NYY) walked into the sunset after the 2010 season, it looked like he had ended his career with 240 wins. But retirement apparently didn’t set well with Pettitte, who returned to the mound this spring. Even with a year off, he hasn’t skipped a beat.
Jun 12 2012 11:04pm
Jun 12 2012 11:04pm
Jay Bruce (OF, CIN) entered the season with high expectations—coming off his first 30-HR season, good xBA trend, still just 25—but a .229 May BA raised some questions. But he's back to his old stroke in the first 10 days of June.
Jun 11 2012 11:04pm
Jun 11 2012 11:04pm
In parts of the past three seasons, Michael Brantley (OF, CLE) gave the impression that he is most effective in a platoon role. This season, however, Brantley is showing he may have been shortchanged by this assessment and has taken advantage of fulltime duties...
Jun 10 2012 11:04pm
Jun 10 2012 11:04pm
There are many reasons for the Mets surprising start. On the surface, Dillon Gee (RHP, NYM) isn't one of them. With a 4-3 record and 4.69 ERA, he seems to be charting a similar course to last year. Look deeper, though, and good things are happening.
Jun 6 2012 11:04pm
Jun 6 2012 11:04pm
Whether it was an early slump or a product of the brisk weather of early Spring, it took Dayan Viciedo (OF, CWS) a while to get going. But starting around mid-May, Viciedo has not only been productive, he's been tearing the cover off the ball...
Jun 5 2012 11:04pm
Jun 5 2012 11:04pm
Johan Santana (LHP, NYM) secured his place in Mets history with his no-hitter on Friday night. But even before his stellar outing, Santana had looked fully recovered from the shoulder concerns that kept him out of action in 2011.
Jun 4 2012 11:03pm
Jun 4 2012 11:03pm
