3 Picks: Birds, Sox and Mile High

Friday, June 15: Micah Owings (4-1)(ARI) vs. Erik Bedard (4-4)(BAL)

Micah Owings is one of the more interesting rookie starting pitchers this year. The future looks bright for the D-backs with a talent like that in the rotation.(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
Micah Owings: 6.0IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 0SO, 0HR - ND
Doug Slaten: 1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - W
Tony Pena: 1.0IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - H

Erik Bedard: 7.0IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 9SO, 1HR - ND
Jamie Walker: 0.1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - H
Todd Williams: 0.2IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 0SO, 1HR - BS, L

The Orioles can't catch a break as they waste a quality start from Bedard. 9 strikeouts in 7 innings for a no decision? I don't know what is up with that bullpen, but it isn't working. The O's seem to be losing a lot of games this way. Actually, they've found a lot of ways to lose games lately.

Saturday, June 16: Matt Cain (2-6)(SF) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-5)(BOS)

Still tracking those gyro-ballin' starts.(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
Matt Cain: 7.0IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 3SO, 1HR - L

Daisuke Matsuzaka: 7.0IP, 3H, 0R, 0ER, 3BB, 8SO, 0HR - W
Hideki Okajima: 1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1SO, 0HR - H
Jonathan Papelbon: 1.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - SV

Wow! That is my kind of game. Both starters give up 3 hits in 7 innings of work. But it's the one that went out of the yard for a home run off the bat of Manny Ramirez that makes the difference in this 1-0 ballgame. This has to be a fun time to be a BoSox fan.

Sunday, June 17: Scott Kazmir (4-3)(TB) vs. Aaron Cook (4-3)(COL)

It's interesting that both these starters are 4-3 at this point in the season. I wonder if where they would be if they played for teams with a more competitive lineup.(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
Scott Kazmir: 6.0IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 5SO, 2HR - W
Jay Witasick: 1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 0SO, 0HR - H
Al Reyes: 1.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2SO, 0HR - SV

Aaron Cook: 6.0IP, 10H, 6R, 6ER, 0BB, 0SO, 3HR - L

These two expansion clubs from different leagues may be the future of major league baseball as each works through "rebuilding mode" with actual signs of building (the Orioles should take some notes). Mariano Rivera may have the reputation as the sandman as a closer. But it's call me Al Reyes who's actually getting the saves in the AL East this year.