A Night in the American League

Every night The Big Guy breaks down the action in the American League.

Biggest Win

Angels 6-Rangers 2: Los Angeles’ #1-3 hitters combined to go 6-14, 6 RBI while Texas’ #1-3 hitters went 0-12. Los Angeles starting pitcher Jered Weaver threw 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER on the way to his 14th win. That #3 hitter for L.A., some guy named Albert Pujols, blasted two home runs in the game. He finished July with 8 home runs, 20 RBI and a .330 batting average. Los Angeles now sits 3 games behind the AL East-leading Rangers after taking the first two of this four game series. With one of the Greatest Players of All-Time heating up and rookie Mike Trout playing MVP-caliber ball, the Rangers should be very, very afraid.

Best Hitter

Nick Markakis was a problem Yankee pitchers could not figure out Tuesday. The Baltimore leadoff hitter went 3-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R in an 11-5 victory. Baltimore batted with clutch as ten of their 11 RBI came with two outs. The Big Guy is a recorded believer in the O’s, and they will go for the three-game sweep Wednesday against the AL East-leading Yankees. Baltimore is 5.5 back from the Yanks and 1.5 back from the second AL Wild Card.

Best Pitcher

Remember the James Shields that threw 11 complete games in 2011? That Shields posted a 2.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, struck out 225 batters and a 4.7 WAR. James Shields 2012 is a different animal: 4.24 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, -0.2 WAR. James Shields 2012 rediscovered JS ’11 for nine innings Tuesday night. The Tampa Bay righty threw a complete game shutout with 11 K, 0 BB, 3 H. The outing against the Oakland Athletics lowered his ERA 0.28. The 54-50 Rays will need more JS ’11 appearances if they are to claim a postseason position.

Stat to Know

New White Sox starting pitcher Francisco Liriano went 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 K, 4 BB against his old team Tuesday. The solid stats did not surprise any Minnesota Twins fans. Liriano’s season statistics are skewed by poor performances away from Target Field.

Stats at Target Field: 4.45 ERA, .196 BA against, 10.7 K/9

Stats away from Target Field: 6.31 ERA, .292 BA against, 8.7 K/9

Tomorrow’s Note

Trying for their third straight win over division rival Texas, the L.A. Angels turn to 24-year-old Garrett Richards. The 6’3″ righty owns a 3.91 ERA but has greatly benefited from outstanding defense behind him. Batters are hitting .266 against him and his WHIP is 1.55.

Is Francisco Liriano Any Good?

The Chicago White Sox made their third significant trade of the season Saturday when they acquired left-handed starter Francisco Liriano from the Minnesota Twins for infielder Eduardo Escobar and left-handed pitcher Pedro Hernandez.

The move my White Sox G.M. Kenny Williams seeks to add quality starting pitching depth to a team full of young flame-throwing relievers but short on healthy starters. The irony is that Liriano once was a thrower.

Liriano burst onto the scene in 2006 as an overpowering 22-year-old. Initially a reliever, the Twins promoted Liriano to the rotation where he finished the season 12-3 with a flossy 2.16 ERA and 1.000 WHIP. Relying on a 95 mph fastball and a sweeping 88 mph slider, Liriano averaged 10.7 K/9. However, Liriano’s impressive rookie year was derailed when he underwent Tommy John surgery on November 6, 2006. He would miss the entire 2007 campaign.

Liriano’s 2008 return brought a 6-4 record with a 3.91 ERA. However, Liriano’s pitches dropped about 4 mph and his K/9 dropped to 7.9. His WHIP increased to 1.395. Liriano’s troubles ballooned in 2009 when he finished with a 5.80 ERA and 1.551 WHIP.

Liriano appeared to have recreated himself in 2010 when he bounced back with a 14-10 record. He lowered his ERA to 3.62 and his WHIP settled to 1.263. His HR/9 also dropped to a career low 0.4. However, the last two seasons have been unkind to Liriano.

He is 12-20 over the last two years and his ERA has exceed 5.00. Part of Liriano’s 2010 resurgence can be attribued to a near return to his original velocity. His fastball averaged 93.7 mph in 2010. His fastball this year averages 92.8 mph.

Liriano’s current 5.31 ERA is marred by a terrible start; his April ERA was 11.02. However, June went smoothly to the tune of a 2.87 ERA and batters only hit .227 against the lefty in July. Signs of improvement?

The White Sox hope so. His FIPx (expected Fielding Independent Pitching) is 3.94, below the league average. The White Sox hope that pitching in front of the second best fielding team in baseball will lower his 64.8% LOB, amongst other unsightly statistics.

Liriano possess a live arm, but not the same arm that dazzled in 2006. The Sox are full of fireballers. They need a reformed hurler to perform like a pitcher.

The Big Guy