Team By Team: Players to Watch in 2009

Baltimore Orioles
Matt Wieters, C: Compared to Joe Mauer and said to be the next great catcher, Wieters has been thrust into the spotlight (or lack there of) in Baltimore. At 23 years old, standing 6-4, weighing 230 pounds, Matt Wieters is the future of catching in baseball. He has an arm that will rank amongst the top 10 in all of baseball by years end. Combined with good power and the ability to consistently keep his batting average around, if not above .300, Matt Wieters only blemish: his lack of opportunity. Baltimore, hesitant to release him on to the baseball world, has kept him in Triple A and threatens to do so to begin the 2009 campaign. By acquiring Gregg Zaun, Wieters opening day location is not currently know. After studying this young man's potential and seemingly destined future as a star, I provide a simple hint for both onlookers and Orioles alike: get him on the field. He's special.

Boston Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF: There was a great number of options for a team that will be in the hunt for October beginning months ago. Though young, power first baseman Lars Anderson is one to watch for, the spectacle will not occur this season unless tragedy strikes David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, or Mike Lowell (keep your fingers crossed Sox fans). Other options included acquired John Smoltz, Brad Penny, and Takashi Saito. Smoltz will provide much needed support in the middle innings of relief, though he has openly stated he wishes to start. Penny could prove to be comeback player of the year, being assigned to the back of one of baseball's best rotations. And finally Saito, maybe the most overlooked aquisition of the baseball off-season, will fit perfectly as a setup man to superstar closer Jonathan Papelbon. However, it is Ellsbury that should be on everyone's radar. After one of the greatest September/October runs by any rookie in 2007, Ellsbury was virtually handed the Rookie of the Year award before the 2008 season began. Rather than continuing his success, Ellsbury fell into a sophomore slump, yet it came in his first full rookie season. While his speed numbers flourished (50 stolen bases in 61 attempts), he struggled with his average, batting a mediocre .280. Oppossing teams, during the brillance of his 2007 late-season exposure, discovered weaknesses in his offensive approach. Sliders and 1-7, 2-8 curveballs were constantly thrown down and in on the young man's shins preventing him from slapping the ball the other way, like he does so well with outside pitches both fastball and off-speed, and preventing him from getting solid contact on the inside half of the plate. Ellsbury was hitting less line drives and instead getting on top of the ball, grounding to the right side of the infield. This year, Ellsbury and the Red Sox hitting staff will have addressed such a weakness. Ellsbury needs to become more patient, seeing 3-5 pitches every at bat, laying of those breaking pitches down and in, and relishing the opportunity to hit infront of MVp winner and candidate Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. Jacoby Ellsbury has the opportunity to score 120+ times, steal 50 bases, and have one of the strongest leadof man on-base-percentages in the league. The slump is over.

New York Yankees
Robinson Cano, 2B: While the dust has yet to settle on A-Rod and the baseball world is still ogling the amount of cash spit out by the Yankees, a player than has risen from the farm system looks to catapult his way back into stardom: Robinson Cano. Ironically, it is the Yankees's farm system that has been the team's greatest weapon; Jeter, Posada, Wang, Joba, Rivera, Melky, and Cano. A lot of talent for very little attention. Cano, compared to the other high priced talent in the Bronx, is cheap at 3 million dollars. Though he is coming off his worst season in pinstripes, batting .271 with 72 RBIs and 14 home runs, Cano is set to reestablish himself as one of the league's best second basemen. Whether put at the top or bottom of a punishing NY line-up, Cano will be protected and given plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. He has cut down on his strikeout numbers and is walking more. However, he struggled early last year to get hot, then roared his way to a strong second half of the season. This year is Cano's "Pedroia year". He has little pressure on his shoulders, will see a plethura of fastballs (espcially up and in where he has a tendency to wander when lazy controlling his strike zone), and has only one gapping hole in his game: his Manny-like laziness. Though blessed with unique batting abilities much like Manny, but not to the same degree, Cano never appears to be going all out, but rather going though the motions. Manager Joe Girardi should take him aside and do what no ever did with Manny Ramirez: tell him to get his act together, hustle every play until it hurts, and then witness his stock rise exponentially. Cano has every offensive tool possible. He can hit to all fields well for both power and average, he has speed both coming out of the box and on the basepaths, and has begun fine tuning his plate vision. He may not put up A-Rod numbers in salary or offense, but he will provide offensive numbers that will launch the conversation of who was a better second baseman out of the NY system: Soriano or Cano. Expect a .300 batting average, 20-25 home runs, 100+ RBIs, 45+ walks, and 100 runs. By the end of the season, cano will be one of the top three second basemen in baseball.

Tampa Bay Rays
Tim Beckham, SS: Everyone is talking about David Price, B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, and the rest of a yong, talented, future all-star studded squad that Tampa Bay has assembled for the long race against Boston and New York for two playoff spots, if that. However, rather than spotlight yong talent that has already stepped onto the stage, the player to watch may not even be in the majors in the 2009 season. Like Longoria, the talent possessed by this young man may be contained to Triple A, but unlike Longoria, it is because of the talent Tampa Bay currently presents on the field. Tim Beckham is just 19 years old and is coming off an incredible display as a member of the Georgia Bulldog team last year. He was drafted by the Rays and few have discussed him further. With Jason Bartlett at short, Beckham will likely not make a splash this season unless there is unexpected injury. However, he is the next in line as another great player from the Rays stacked farm system. He has speed, a strong arm, good range, great vision both at the plate and on the field, enough power to contribute 15+ home runs, and will consistently bat around .300 early in his career, advancing to the .315+ level with more experience. He has the best collection of tools than any other young shortstop besides future Hall of Famer Hanley Ramirez. His balance in ability is similar to that of a young Nomar Garciaparra, besides the flare for the off balance throw. Nomar won the batting title early in his career twice, was a threat to hit 15-20 home runs, was a terrific doubles hitter with his ability to slap the ball to all parts of the field and use his youthful speed to out run the arms of outfielders, and can range to any groundball that enters his reach. Beckham may not be in the majors in '09, but the Rays have done it again. the future is bright or bad with Longoria, Beckham, Iwamura, and Pena as the starting infield, depending on if you're the Rays or the rest of baseball.

Toronto Blue Jays
Shaun Marcum, SP: Little light shows at the end of the tunnel for the Jays. It appears to be a three team race in the East with Toronto playing the role of spoiler rather than contender. Yet, could a team built on young pitching and a veteran line-up upset the established mindset and play more than just spoiler? If such fantasy becomes reality, several things must occur. Rolens, Wells, Rios, Scutaro, and Overbay need to find what has been lacking: offensive backing for the pitching staff. Roy Hallday will continue to be one of the game's elite, but he will need help from a supporting cast. Choicing between two young potnetial roation stars (Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan), Marcum looked like the better pick to be the roster dspot to watch on the Jays in 2009. He had a strong year last year with a 3.39 ERA, but only going 9-7, though this is not his fault. Teams posted only a .222 batting average against him including .221 against Boston, .154 against Tampa Bay, .143 against Chicago, and .077 against the Cleveland. Going 5-4 pre-All Star game with an ERA of 2.65, Marcum faded as the year wore on. This season, such a fate will not occur. He has a strong fastball, good breaking pitches, and can location and change spees well in any count. He must continue to jam right handed hitters and force left handed to hit into the big part of the Skydom where he allowed only 7 home runs last year compared to the 14 on the road. Shaun Marcum has the ability to get his ERA to 3 or less, and if he does, watch out. The Blue jays are coming.