Sweeps and their ramifications will be the subject of the day.
The Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Arizona Diamondbacks making it a 5-0 regular season start against the NL West Kirk Gibson led foe. The D'Backs currently sit at 4-11 two days away from Jackie Robinson Day on Tuesday April 15th. I mentioned in an earlier post that if going into Jackie Robinson Day the Diamondbacks were still counting wins with only one hand that Manager Kirk Gibson likely does not make it through the month of May with his job. A 3 game series with the New York Mets may just be what the doctor ordered. Then again, it may be the iceberg that sank the Titanic.
Speaking of baseball managers doubling as crew members of the Titanic, Kansas City manager Ned Yost must be feeling sea sick after being outscored 21-6 whilst being swept by the Minnesota Twins. The Royals now have lowest scoring offense in the American League 0.02 less runs per game than the Houston Astros. The Astros happen to be their next opponent before an opportunity for redemption when the Twins visit Kauffman Stadium next weekend. For a trendy pick to win the division, the Royals are doing it wrong!!
Speaking of trendy picks to win the division, the Washington Nationals just got swept by the Atlanta Braves, the team they would have to overcome to win the NL East. The Braves scored 23 runs during the series doubling their season long production at the plate. Another Nats sweep of the Miami Marlins would likely keep them neck and neck with the Braves for 1st place but an abysmal showing in their 4 game set with the St. Louis Cardinals next weekend will help solidify their "pretender not contender" status.
Speaking of the Miami Marlins, anybody remember when they were 5-1? After being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, the Marlins now sit at 5-8. I never thought they would keep pace with the Nationals and Braves but third place in the NL East is feasible. The Marlins will have to win these games back from the Phillies when they visit Miami May 20-22.
I ran out of "speaking of" tie-ins. The Milwaukee Brewers extended their winning streak to 9 games by sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now the real fun begins as they host the St. Louis Cardinals then fly to Pittsburgh for a three game re-match. The Cardinals were the gold standard last season beating the Brewers in the pennant race by 23 games. Can a full year of Ryan Braun and tweaked starting rotation really close that gap?
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