JosephSwit.com:Sports Analysis and Political Punditry from a 12-Year-Old POTUS in Training

On the eve of the 79th All Star game and the last at Yankee Stadium Major League Baseball has completed the first half of the 2008 season. The first half may have surprised some as the Tampa Bay Rays who had a record of just 66-96 last season find themselves just .5 games back of the defending champions the Boston Red Sox. We all knew that Tampa Bay who shortened there name to Rays over the off season would have a better year but no one expected this much from the Florida team which was created only a decade ago as an expansion team might just make the playoffs and win the AL East. But also at the halfway point is the All Star game at Yankee Stadium which has suddenly found itself the welcoming place for 7 Boston red Sox and 7 Chicago Cubs representing there respective leagues.
There’s definitely some players on each team that are deserving of the honor to play at the last All Star game at Yankee Stadium like Manny Ramirez, Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Zambrano, and Jonathon Paplebon. However I see no reason in selecting Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, and Jason Varitex who is hitting .218 at the break to the All Star game. To prevent things like this I think that Major League Baseball should put rules about repetitive voting for the game so that we can Make sure that not to many players represent each team.
But tonight is a night to sit back a and watch the 79th All Star game at Yankee Stadium and hope that this game can add more great memories to the historic Yankee Stadium.

The State of the Baseball season, making sense of Chipper Jones, Josh Hamilton and the slumping New York Yankees
I know that my AL pick isn’t living up to its standard in the Yankees but they’ve got Arod back and they are starting to win. Once they get Posada back this lineup which has already started to pick up the slack with a twelve and thirteen run showing Friday and Saturday against the Mariners will be much improved.
Ian Kennedy finally got a quality for the Yankees and if Phil Hughes when he returns follows suit then the rotation with the always dominate Chien Ming Wang, the consistent Andy Petite, the recently hot Mike Mussina and with the surprise performances of Darrell Rasner might be enough for them to get into the playoffs. As for winning the World Series I am not so sure but I am a sports analyst and a stick by my picks.
As for the Cubs well I believe my pick will be right with them winning the NL pennant with Zambrano, Soriano, Lee and Fukudome leading the way the Cubs are the team to beat in the NL Central and pretty much all of Baseball frankly.
Chipper Jones is on fire but I think it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be hitting over .400 by seasons end. Every player goes through slumps in the course of 162 games and he hasn’t gone through one yet so he might not be the first player since Ted Williams to hit over .400.
Josh Hamilton has a much better shot at the Triple Crown then Chipper Jones does at hitting .400. However I still think its unlikely he will probably lead in Home Runs and RBIs although Chipper may not hit .400 he’ll definitely get in the .390, .380 range which would render it hard for Hamilton to complete the feat.

Prediction for MLB Season

It took me a while to decide but finally I am predicting that the New York Yankees will win this year’s World Series not because they’re my favorite team or because my favorite player, Alex Rodriguez plays for them. It’s because Bobby Abreu and Hideki Matsui have been on fire the first week of the season and when Arod gets hot and Jeter gets rolling this is going to be an unstoppable offense. I’d originally picked the Tigers to win the Series but it’s hard to pick a team that has lost their first six games of the Season to the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox. What struck me about the Tigers was how bad there middle relief pitching was and I don’t think Joel Zumaya can come early enough to save the Tigers. One of the reasons I chose the Yankees was because they Bullpen was outstanding, save LaTroy Hawkins, and if they can get Joba Chamberlain to be a starter this season then there on their way. Chien-Ming Wang has already picked up two victories and Mike Mussina pitched like he can win 15 games this year.

The National League team that I think will lose to the Yankees in the World Series is the Chicago Cubs. The players on the Cubs are now used to Lou Penilla’s style of Baseball, the young players will be more relaxed and will in turn play better ball. Alfonso Soriano and Derek Lee are going to lead this team with high offensive numbers and I like what I am seeing out of Kosuke Fukudome.

American League Winners

East:

New York Yankees

Central:

Cleveland Indians

West:

Los Angeles Angels

Wild Card:

Seattle Mariners

American League Personal Awards

MVP:

Alex Rodriguez NYY, because if he can hit 54 home runs with the opt out clause controversy then he can definitely hit 50+ now that we know he’s going to be a Yankee for the rest of his Career. Also, he’s going to get more RBI opportunities now that Abreu is hitting better.

Cy Young:

Chien-Ming Wang NYY, because he has the most wins over the last two years with 19 a year, he’s going to go over twenty this season. He’s mixing his Changeup and his Slider in with his high velocity Sinker. Also he is not leaving pitches up in the zone witch is partly why he hasn’t won the 20 games the last two years.

Sports Analysis

Insights and Sports Analysis from a POTUS In-Training

(Candidate in 2032)

Note: He also does Political Analysis.