MLB Baseball Report Cards - Volume 3

by Bodog Sportsbook | Jul 18 2008

We’ve reached the midpoint of the MLB season which means it's report card time. Find out which teams are making the grade and which teams need to pick up the slack.

MLB Report Card

Texas Rangers

Hitting: A+
Pitching: C-
Comments: The Texas Rangers have two of the best stories in baseball in Milton Bradley and Josh Hamilton who are both having career seasons. Hamilton has battled back from drug abuse and has had one of the greatest first halves of baseball in the history of the game. The hitting for the Rangers has been top notch and is one of the reasons why this team is four games over .500 with a sub-par pitching staff. If the pitching staff can find ways to keep the ball within the confines of the ballpark in Arlington, this Rangers team could be in the hunt for a wild-card spot.
Overall: B-

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Toronto Blue Jays

Hitting: C
Pitching: B+
Comments: The Toronto Blue Jays might be their own worst enemies. It was thought that this team just didn’t have enough to compete with the Red Sox and the Yankees in the American League East, and so far that notion has held true. But it hasn’t been because of lack of talent. Questionable management from their GM and questionable coaching from former bench boss John Gibbons combined with injuries has seen the Blue Jays dwindle in the standings. They have both the pitching staff and the batting power to be competitive, and now with the return of Cito Gaston to the helm, they have a chance to right what appeared to be a sinking ship. Don’t hold your breath for this year; it’s not quite the 1993 Jays feel in Toronto just yet.
Overall: C+

Baltimore Orioles

Hitting: C
Pitching: C
Comments: The Orioles rolled out of the gate to start the season but the wheels have fallen off since. After looking like a team that might be able to compete, Baltimore has since withered away and now sit in the basement of the American League East. Don't be misled - Baltimore is only three games back of being a .500 ball club, which goes to show just how tough that division is. But as much as the Orioles look like they are one power arm and another big bat away from meaning something in the A.L. East, don't expect them to make a major turnaround in the second half.
Overall: C

Washington Nationals

Pitching: D
Hitting: D
Comments: The Nationals are the worst team in the major leagues and they aren’t showing any signs of improvement this year. Apart from Christian Guzman, who remains one of the few bright spots for this team, the nation’s capital has not had much to be proud of. The Nationals barely ever win on the road at just 16-30 and their home record is a mediocre 20-30. Obviously, the Nationals aren’t going to get it done this year, but this team should take a page out of the Tampa Bay Rays’ book, and continue to build young for the future.
Overall: D

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San Diego Padres

Pitching: D
Hitting: C+
Comments: It’s been a disappointing season for the San Diego Padres after coming so close to the postseason last year; they have not been able to follow up this year with a repeat performance. In fact, the Padres have been downright terrible this year. They sit in last place in the weakest division in baseball and their offense has been nonexistent. Their pitching grades are misleading as the Padres staff have to go into each game knowing they will likely be without any run support. In fairness, injuries have riddled this team into mediocrity, and with a healthy roster, perhaps the Padres can finish the second half of the season on a more positive note.
Overall: C-

Colorado Rockies

Pitching: C
Hitting: C-
Comments: What a difference a year makes for Clint Hurdle’s Colorado Rockies. The thin air in Colorado might have gotten a little thicker this year because the Colorado bats have not been as lively as they used to be at Coors Field. Throw in an injury to your All-Star shortstop and combine that with a team ERA of almost five runs and just 14 wins on the road this year and that will land you 8.5 games back in a division lead by a team below .500.
Overall: C-

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Be sure to check out the other MLB Report Card Volumes:

• Previous: MLB Report Cards - Volume 2
• Next: MLB Report Cards - Volume 4