Day: May 14, 2016

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander is a pitcher who plays for the Detroit Tigers. We now decode his profile.

Justin Verlander used to be the most dominant ace on the team. That was until Max Sherzer had an amazing Cy Young Award season in 2013 where he went 21-3. Justin Verlander has more hardware then Sherzer does. In 2011, Justin Verlander had an unbelievable season which earned him the Cy Young Award and the AL’s MVP award. He would be the only pitcher to do that since the time of Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax. That would stand until Clayton Kershaw got the MVP honors in 2014. In 2011, Verlander went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and struck out 250 batters. Verlander has also led the league in wins and strikeouts multiple times.

Justin also has some other great feats up his sleeve. Justin pitched two no-hitters in the past. On a good day, any pitcher would be able to do that. But to get two is really hard. In his young days, Verlander used to be one of some great pitchers to reach 100 mph on the gun. That helped him earn the 2006 Rookie of the Year Award. Also, the year that Verlander won the MVP, he also won something else. He accomplished the pitching Triple Crown. A pitching Triple Crown is where you lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and have the lowest ERA.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera is one of the most known players in all of Major League Baseball.  Let’s now look at his amazing current career.

Miguel Cabrera is the first baseman/third baseman on the Detroit Tigers.  He has made several World Series appearances.  He won the 2003 World Series with Marlins and defeated the New York Yankees.  The Tigers soon signed him and there was no mistake in that deal.  Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown in 2012.  A Triple Crown is when you lead the league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in. It was also no surprise that he also won the MVP that year, too.  He also won the MVP Award the following year.  The ‘’Mighty Miggy’’ as broadcasters like to call him, is a regular at the all-star game. He even hit a home run in the 2014 all-star game. When Miguel Cabrera is playing, you probably won’t be disappointed.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Yoenis Cespedes

Yoenis Cespedes is one of the greatest sluggers in all of baseball. We now look into his profile.

Yoenis Cespedes is most known for his home run derby skills back with the Oakland Athletics.  In his first two years in the majors, Cespedes would win the home run derby in both years tying him with Ken Griffley Jr. for the MLB record. Everybody thinks he is the best home run hitter. But he is an even better fielder. Before the trade which sent him to the Boston Red Sox, he would throw bombs from left field to get runners out at the plate.

But the Oakland Athletics made a mistake when they traded their top player away to the Boston Red Sox. With the Red Sox, he still was able to show his talent in historic Fenway Park. He would get his first infield assist as a Red Sox shortly after the trade. Every so often Yoenis can run for you to get an extra base. It was no wonder that the Oakland Athletics lost the wild card game to the Kansas City Royals.  As you can see, Yoenis Cespedes is one of the best hitters and outfielders in the game today.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols is one of the best Major League Baseball hitter of all time. We now look at his legacy.

Albert Pujols is one of the best hitters of all time.  He played most of his current career with the St. Louis Cardinals. In the postseason of 2012, the Los Angeles Angels signed him. Albert took some time getting use to the dimensions of the Angels home stadium. In his first year with the Angels, he hit a horrible 17 home runs. He was used to hitting 40 or 50 home runs a year with the St. Louis Cardinals. He had some pretty big milestones with the Cardinals. He won the 2001 National League Rookie of the Year award. He also made numerous all-star appearances and won three MVP awards with the Cards. Besides making some great achievements with the Cardinals, he made two of the greatest milestones any player could make with the Angels. He hit his 500 home run in 2014. That is a really big deal that only few people achieve in their baseball career. Besides that, he also made another great milestone. That other milestone is the goal of reaching 2,500 hits. That is very good. Albert also is one of the best first basemen in baseball history. ‘’Prince Albert,” as some announcers call him, has multiple gold gloves with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pujols, in his younger days, used to be able to steal around fifteen bases a year unlike any other first basemen. As you can see, Albert Pujols is one of the greatest first basemen in all of baseball history and has a few more years to up his already amazing stats. So don’t be surprised if he lands himself a place in Cooperstown.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Jered Weaver

Jered Weaver is one of the best pitchers. We now look at his overpowering profile.

Jered Weaver has always been a great player who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has led the league in different pitching categories multiple times. Jered Weaver isn’t really a dominant strikeout pitcher like Clayton Kershaw or Felix Hernandez. But surprisingly he led the league in K’s in 2010. He led the league by getting only one more strikeout then the second place rival Felix Hernandez. That season he would go 13-12 with the league leading 233 strikeouts. From that point on Weaver would also tie the league leader in wins. He would tie the lead league in wins with 20 wins. Jered Weaver would also help bring his team to the postseason in 2014. He couldn’t have done this without the legendary Mike Trout. Weaver is also a regular starting pitcher at the all-star game. As you can see, Jered is one of the best pitchers in the game. The Angels would have trouble controlling their success without their ace.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Mike Trout: 2012

Mike Trout is one of the best all-around players in baseball. We now look at this young center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Mike Trout I one of the best all-around players in baseball. He has done many things in his short 4 year span as a big leaguer. One thing that stands out is how is his first full season he hit 30 home runs and also stole 30 bases. That made him in the 30-30 club which few people do. That season in 2012, he hit exactly 30 home runs and swiped a league leading 49 stolen bases. It was no surprise when he won the Rookie of  the Year.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Craig Kimbrel

 

Craig Kimbrel is one of the best relief pitchers in the game. We now look at his amazing closer career.

Craig Kimbrel is one of the best closers in the game alongside the flamethrower Aroldis Chapman. When the great and legendary Mariano Rivera retired in 2013, Craig got more fame then he already had. Since Craig is the face of the franchise of the Atlanta Braves, the fans cheer him on. Craig is now known as the greatest closer. Since 2011, Craig has led the National League in saves. In his 2011 rookie campaign, when he first led the league in saves, he broke a record. He got the most saves by a rookie closer in their first year. That would earn him the National League Rookie of the Year award. Craig has a very unique way of pitching that may be the key to his success. He has an unusual pitching stance. He dangles his arms while looking in at the sign the catcher has to offer him. They call his stance ‘’Kimbreling.’’ Then Craig usually strikes the batter out. Since Craig Kimbrel is so good at getting saves, the fans usually vote him in to attend the all-star game.

Craig also reached a milestone in 2014. He put his name on top of John Smoltz as the Atlanta Braves all-time saves leader. As you can see, Craig Kimbrel is one of the best closers in all of baseball.  Don’t be surprised if he goes into the Hall of Fame someday.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Andrew McCutchen

Andrew McCutchen is one of the best players. Let’s now look at the Pirates face of the franchise.

Andrew McCutchen might be the second best all-around player besides Mike Trout.  In 2013, he won the National League MVP honors.  He is most known for his amazing plays. But people often forget his offensive skills.  He hits a good amount of home runs and he is not afraid to attempt to steal a base every so often. He would have an even better season in 2014 than his MVP year in 2013.   He would get delayed just a little when he got hit in the back in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Andrew McCutchen was a candidate for the tight 2014 MVP honors.  As you can see, this amazing all around dreadlock wearing player is better than you think.  Without Andrew McCutchen, the Pittsburg Pirates wouldn’t be able to ‘’Raise the Jolly Roger.’’