Josh Beckett is getting two starts this week - how does he rate among the week's two-timers?
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American League
American League East
Baltimore Orioles: Hayden Penn, at Tampa Bay and vs. Boston; Jeremy Guthrie, at Tampa Bay and vs. Boston
Boston Red Sox: Daisuke Matsuzaka, vs. Toronto and at Baltimore; Josh Beckett, vs. Toronto and at Baltimore
New York Yankees: Roger Clemens, vs. Seattle and at Kansas City
Tampa Bay Devil Rays: James Shields, vs. Baltimore and vs. Toronto
Toronto Blue Jays: Jason Litsch, at Boston and at Tampa Bay
American League Central
Chicago White Sox: Jon Garland, at Detroit and vs. Minnesota
Cleveland Indians: C.C. Sabathia, at Minnesota and at Los Angeles; Aaron Laffey, at Minnesota and at Los Angeles
Detroit Tigers: Jeremy Bonderman, vs. Chicago and vs. Seattle
Kansas City Royals: Zack Greinke, at Texas and vs. New York
Minnesota Twins: Johan Santana, vs. Cleveland and at Chicago
American League West
Los Angeles Angels: Dustin Moseley, vs. Oakland and vs. Cleveland; Jered Weaver, vs. Oakland and vs. Cleveland
Oakland Athletics: Chad Gaudin, at Los Angeles and at Texas
Seattle Mariners: Felix Hernandez, at New York and at Detroit
Texas Rangers: Kevin Millwood, vs. Kansas City and vs. Oakland
National League
National League East
Atlanta Braves: Lance Cormier, vs. Philadelphia and vs. Washington
Florida Marlins: Dontrelle Willis, at Washington and at Philadelphia
New York Mets: Pedro Martinez, at Cincinnati and vs. Houston
Philadelphia Phillies: Jamie Moyer, at Atlanta and vs. Florida
Washington Nationals: Jason Bergmann, vs. Florida and at Atlanta
National League Central
Chicago Cubs: Carlos Zambrano, vs. Los Angeles and at Pittsburgh; Ted Lilly, vs. Los Angeles and at Pittsburgh
Cincinnati Reds: Aaron Harang, vs. New York and vs. Milwaukee; Matt Belisle, vs. New York and vs. Milwaukee
Houston Astros: Roy Oswalt, at Milwaukee and at New York
Milwaukee Brewers: Ben Sheets, vs. Houston and at Cincinnati
Pittsburgh Pirates: Pat Maholm, at St. Louis and vs. Chicago; Ian Snell, at St. Louis and vs. Chicago
St. Louis Cardinals: Kip Wells, vs. Pittsburgh and at Arizona
National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks: Micah Owings, vs. San Diego and vs. St. Louis; Doug Davis, vs. San Diego and vs. St. Louis
Colorado Rockies: Jeff Francis, vs. San Francisco and vs. San Diego
Los Angeles Dodgers: Esteban Loaiza, at Chicago and at San Francisco; Brad Penny, at Chicago and at San Francisco
San Diego Padres: Greg Maddux, at Arizona and at Colorado
San Francisco Giants: Matt Cain, at Colorado and vs. Los Angeles
You Want These Guys…
Here are your top five two-timers for the first week of September:
- Johan Santana
- C.C. Sabathia
- Carlos Zambrano
- Josh Beckett
- James Shields
The AL dominates the list this week. If Ben Sheets and Roy Oswalt were not as injury prone as they have proven to be – one sneeze and they both could list both starts this week – they might have made the list. James Shields’ season took a downturn in the middle, but six straight quality starts, the last two of which were over eight innings, has him looking like a prize once again.
Eh, Not So Much…
- Matt Belisle
- Jamie Moyer
- Dustin Moseley
- Jason Bergmann
- Aaron Laffey
Matt Belisle had his moment in the sun a while back and the shade has been cold and lonely since. Jamie Moyer’s time in the sun came when Belisle was in elementary school. Okay, it has not been that long since Moyer was good, but he has been horrific of late. Bergmann was quite good before his injury and should be good again in the future, but right now he has nothing. The two AL pitchers on the list – Laffey and Moseley – are both young and raw, and there are too many risks to starting them this week.
The Schedule Advantages
With only five games on Thursday, it is easier to list teams that do not have an off day this week than do, so here are the ones playing seven: the Cubs, Pirates, Cardinals, Dodgers, Orioles, Red Sox, White Sox, Indians, Tigers, and Angels.
While the Rockies only have six games this week, all six are at home, with three against the Giants and three against the Padres.
Questions and comments may be sent to markhaverty@sportsgrumblings.com
