2015 Pre-Season Profile: Tampa Bay Rays

Joe Maddon managed the Tampa Bay Rays for nine seasons, leading them to their first six winning seasons and a World Series appearance.  Now that Maddon has moved on, can the Rays continue their winning ways.

Last Season

77-85, 4th in AL East

For the first time since his first two seasons as manager, Joe Maddon's Rays finished with a losing record.  They have always found ways of overachieving year after year under Maddon even with the poor business plan of the Rays.  They would develop their young players, and then trade them right before they are about to cash in with a big contract (except for Evan Longoria).  It's no wonder Joe Maddon left Tampa when he had the chance, especially after the team decided to trade away ace David Price instead of try and lock him up long term.  All this selling of their best players left the Rays with one of their least talented rosters in years.  It's a miracle their record was as good as it was.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

The Rays continued their selling of their veterans in the offseason.  Leaving the Rays via trade this offseason were Yunel Escobar, Ben Zobrist, Matt Joyce, Jeremy Hellickson, Sean Rodriguez, and 2013 Rookie of the Year Wil Myers.  The only players ready to impact the club now that were brought in were Asdrubal Cabrera and John Jaso.  Eventually, the Rays might see a return for their investments, but it will be a few years down the line.

Most Important Hitter

Desmond Jennings

Desmond Jennings has been poised to have a breakout season for several years now.  In fact, the fact that he hasn't had his big breakout year is probably the reason he is still a Ray since every other good player has been traded.  However, this is a very talented player and hitter that has the potential of being an impact bat in the Rays' lineup.  As one of the few returning players from last year's lineup, he is also, along with Evan Longoria, taking on some veteran leadership responsibilities of the remembering the winning ways of the Rays.

Most Important Pitcher

Chris Archer

The Rays have always been carried by a great pitching staff.  However, with former cornerstones of the rotation like James Shields, Matt Garza, and David Price gone, the Rays need the next generation of pitching stars to emerge.  With Alex Cobb starting the season on the DL, this responsibility fall squarely on the shoulders of Chris Archer.  Archer followed his rookie season with a solid performance in 2014.  Now the Rays are counting on him to be the new ace of the staff moving forward ... at least for 3 years or so before they trade him too.

Player to Watch

Steven Souza

Steven Souza is a perfect example of the Rays' gameplan in forming their roster.  Souza was acquired this offseason in the Wil Myers trade.  By trading away a current star, the Rays were able to bring in a potential future star.  Souza is penciled in to be the Rays' staring rightfielder on Opening Day.  Expect him to be the next breakout guy on the trading block for the Rays.

Prediction

5th in AL East

If any team is going to finish with 100+ wins this season, it is going to be the Tampa Bay Rays.  This is one of the least talented teams they have fielded in a very long time (outside of the pitching rotation, which might be the only reason they don't lose 100 games), and losing Joe Maddon is going to show as this club will not overachieve as previous young rosters have.  I am not saying rookie manager Kevin Cash is going to be a bad coach, but he just isn't Joe Maddon.  Maddon seemed to pull off a magic trick every year in Tampa, and with him moving on the team will take a step back no matter who is managing.  They might as well go back to being the Devil Rays because they will be that forgettable.

2015 Pre-Season Profile: Texas Rangers

After four straight 90+ win seasons, the Texas Rangers had an injury-plagued season for the ages in 2014 that took them from the top of their division to the bottom.  Will 2015 mark a return to their winning ways, or was 2014 a sign of future struggling?

Last Season

67-95, 5th in AL West

The Rangers seemed to set records in 2014 for most days spent on the DL by their players.  As a self-proclaimed Rangers hater, I couldn't help but feel sorry for a club that was forced to only be a shell of their potential self.  For the first time since 2007, the Rangers were not in either first or second in the division.  It was a lost season that ended up with a finish in the cellar and a question of what things could have been.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

The biggest move the Rangers made this offseason was trading for veteran starter Yovani Gallardo from the Brewers.  Outside of this move, the Rangers were quite quiet over the offseason.  Their main additions came from getting players back from injury like Prince Fielder, Shin Soo Choo, and Derek Holland.  The subtractions start with the loss of manager Ron Washington, who resigned near the end of the 2014 season.  Although the calendar has turned, injuries have not ended for the Rangers, with former top prospect Jurickson Profar missing his second consecutive season with a shoulder injury and Yu Darvish going down in Spring Training with the dreaded Tommy John.

Most Important Hitter

Prince Fielder

It was hard to remember that the talk of the 2014 offseason was the Rangers acquiring Prince Fielder from the Tigers for Ian Kinsler.  This is because Fielder, who was a model of consistency his whole career, missed most of the season with an injury.  Now he is healthy and is needed desperately to anchor their lineup as one of the only players in their lineup with any pop.  If he can return to his superstar form this year, then the Rangers will have a chance to be back on top sooner than later.

Most Important Pitcher

Neftali Feliz

Neftali Feliz has had quite a roller coaster career so far.  Early on in his career, Feliz shot to stardom as one of the most dominant closers in the league.  Then the Rangers decided to try and make him a starter.  After a decent start to his 2012 season, Feliz needed Tommy John surgery and has not played a full season since.  Now, he is finally back healthy to start a season and back in the closer role for the Rangers.  The team needs him to be back to the player he was in 2011, his last full season as the closer.

Player to Watch

Joey Gallo

This could be a fascinating situation to watch moving through this season.  Joey Gallo is the best prospect in the Rangers' system and the 10th best prospect in baseball.  After an outstanding Spring Training, he looks like a star in the making.  There is only one thing keeping him from becoming an impact player in the big leagues: he plays third base which is currently occupied by possible Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre.  If the Rangers struggle at all like they did last year (which is highly likely), look for Beltre to be on the trading block to make room for Gallo.  Beltre still is a top tier player and could really help a team making a stretch run, and Gallo is the type of player that becomes an impact bat in a lineup as soon as he gets an opportunity to play.

Prediction

4th in AL West

Injuries killed the Rangers' season in 2014, and injuries have already affected the 2015 season before it even started.  There is more there though.  The injuries last year exposed just how thin their lineup is in spots and how much they need to grow to get back to the top of the division.  This year will likely be slightly better than last year, but they are definitely a few years away from being back on top.

2015 Pre-Season Profile: Pittsburgh Pirates

After not making the playoffs since 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been involved in the last two postseasons.  Will 2015 continue their recent streak of success?

Last Season

88-74, 2nd in NL Central, WILD CARD, lost to Giants in Wild Card Game

The Pirates were the talk of the playoffs in 2013 much like the Royals were in 2014.  However, last season the electricity of Pittsburgh in the playoffs could not overcome the freight train that was Madison Bumgarner's 2014 postseason run.  His shutout in the Wild Card Game ended the Pirates' 2014 season, but in making it to the postseason two years in a row, the Bucs proved they are now one of the top teams in the National League that can be expected to be in the mix year after year.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

The Pirates showed just how much they think they are on the verge of greatness by barely making any moves this offseason.  Ike Davis moved on, allowing Pedro Alvarez to move to first base and Josh Harrison to have a permanent-ish home at third.  The biggest loss was Russell Martin moving on to the Blue Jays.  The Pirates think they found an adequate replacement behind the plate when they traded for Francisco Cervelli.  Outside of these moves, there was no real significant adjustments to last year's roster.  The biggest addition to their roster is another year of experience for their young stars.

Most Important Hitter

Gregory Polanco

Last year, Gregory Polanco made his highly anticipated debut for the Pirates in rightfield.  He did not have a great season, although it was just his age 22 season.  After his taste of The Show last season, the Pirates are needing Polanco to solidify his position in the heart of the lineup surrounded by budding superstar Starling Marte and superstar Andrew McCutchen.  His production could determine how far the Pirates go this year.

Most Important Pitcher

Gerrit Cole

While the Pirates' offense is a definite strength, their starting rotation is lacking some star power and greatness.  They need an ace that can be the face of the mound like McCutchen has been the face at the plate.  Gerrit Cole has the ability to be that ace, and the Pirates need him to start to show it.  This former overall number one pick had an injury-plagued 2014 season that kept him behind his progress.  Now that he is healthy, it is time for him to claim his place as the ace of this mediocre staff.

Player to Watch

Jung Ho Kang

One acquisition the Pirates made that I didn't mention earlier was the signing of 28 year old Korean player Jung Ho Kang.  He is starting the season as the team's utility backup infielder, but let's face it, Josh Harrison will not stay long as only a third baseman.  What makes him great is his ability to play everywhere.  He thrives on it.  If Harrison is needed elsewhere around the diamond, or if Jordy Mercer struggles, watch for Kang to get a chance to show how his talents translate to the American game.

Prediction

1st in NL Central, lose in NLDS

I think this is the year the Pirates finally win the division.  They have had their taste and now want to take the next step.  Although they win the division, their lack of pitching will keep them from going very far in the playoffs.  Watch out for them in 2016 though as more pitching prospects get closer and closer to breaking into stardom.

2015 Pre-Season Profile: Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have been on a steady decline since their last playoff appearance in 2011.  Will 2015 start to see a turnaround, or will do they have further to fall before they can start to get better?

Last Season

73-89, 5th in NL East

In his first full season as manager, Hall of Fame player Ryne Sandberg learned first hand what many others have been saying about the Phillies' roster.  The core that led them on an amazing run from 2007-2011 has aged and is not productive anymore.  However, they have committed too much money to these players (Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Carlos Ruiz, Marlon Byrd, Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon) to really go out and improve the aging roster.  Essentially, loyalty is killing their team right now.  They are just stuck right now, which was shown by a second straight 89 loss season.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

There is a blueprint that has been used in the past to improve a team in the Phillies' position.  Trade away your veteran players to teams ready to make a playoff run and bring back prospects to build a new core.  It takes some time, but it's effective.  They were able to essentially do this by trading Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers and Marlon Byrd to the Reds.  However, there is too much money (and baggage) attached with players like Ryan Howard and Cliff Lee to be traded in this way.  They did bring in veteran starter Aaron Harang this offseason, but the real story of the Phillies is what moves they didn't make.  They needed to overhaul their lineup, but they are bringing back the same roster (with the exception of Rollins and Byrd).  Their best player right now, Cole Hamels, the only core player still in his prime, is shockingly still on the roster when a trade involving him could single-handedly provide the Phillies with two or three top prospects ready to break out.  He still might get traded during the season, but he won't be worth as much as he was in the offseason.  In a lot of ways, they are failing at this rebuilding project.

Most Important Hitter

Chase Utley

Of all the aging core player of the Phillies, Chase Utley is one of the only ones still playing at a productive level.  Utley made the All Star Team in 2014 for the first time since 2010 which showed he still has some gas left in the tank.  The question is how much?  If Utley is able to give a strong 2015 season, one of two things can happen.  First, he could take pressure off some of the younger players that are bound to populate the Phillies' lineup this year.  Second, he could show another team he is worth trading for in the stretch run of the season which can bring back more younger talent to Philly.  It could be an interesting story to watch this season.

Most Important Pitcher

Jonathan Papelbon

Jonathan Papelbon has more than overstayed his welcome in Philadelphia.  Even he has to be shocked he is still on their roster.  However, his performance this season is important to the Phillies in the same way Cole Hamels is important.  Papelbon will most likely not end the season on the Phillies' roster.  The better he plays, the more he is worth on the trade market.

Player to Watch

Aaron Nola

With the possibility of Hamels getting traded, the future ace of the Philllies might be emerging in 2015.  Aaron Nola was the Phillies' 1st round choice just last season and is already primed to make an impact in the big leagues.  With the type of season the Phillies are expected to have, be prepared to see guys like Nola and maybe even top prospect J.P. Crawford (although he isn't supposed to be ready until next season) pop up all over the diamond in 2015.

Prediction

5th in NL East

This may have been the easiest prediction I had to make in 2015.  To answer my question from earlier, I think the Phillies still have farther to fall before they start getting better.  For this to change, they either need their aging veterans to produce or leave, and it really doesn't look like either is going to be happening soon.  The only option is wait it out and hope to emerge in a few seasons as the latest young, up-and-coming team sometime around 2018.

It Follows (2015) Review

Directed by

David Robert Mitchell

It is not a normal occurrence for me to rush to the theater to watch a horror movie, but something about the trailers for It Follows really got to me. It appeared to be a throwback to the glory days of slasher horror films, led by Wes Craven and such. It is. It appeared to be an original story in a much worn genre. It is. It appeared to go about its scares in a way other than loud artificial noises and jump cuts. It does. What might have most intrigued me, however, was that it is directed by David Robert Mitchell, whose only other film was one of the best movies of 2011 and one of the great high school hangout movies I have seen (The Myth of the American Sleepover). I had to know what his next movie was, especially being a genre on the other end of the spectrum. Yet somehow, it almost isn’t.

The movie starts the way most classic horror movies do. A young woman is running around distraught, frightened, and in tears. She looks back at her house, but nothing is there. Still, she becomes increasingly terrified and hops in her car and speeds away with her life. Next, she is on the beach making a phone call to her parents apologizing to them, knowing that she was about to meet her end. The next thing we see is her dead, deformed body in the exact place she made the call with the vibrant, shock horror sound effect that was common in the films of John Carpenter. From that moment on, we are glued to the screen because we are confused, terrified, and oddly fascinated by what transpired in the first couple minutes.

The main characters are a group of friends led by Jay (Maika Monroe), who is a typical hot teenage girl going out with an older guy named Hugh (Jake Weary). As they get closer, Hugh begins acting weird. He seems paranoid in some way and acts uneasy in crowded areas. Eventually, they hook up in his car outside some abandoned hotel, and then he drugs her and ties her up. We think he is the villain for all of a few seconds, until we realize how either mentally deranged he is or that he actually had good reason to do this. He explains to Jay that he passed on his curse to her. He got followed by people trying to kill him. Only he could see them. They walk slowly, but they follow. They will now be going after Jay until she passes it on by having sex with someone else. Everyone exposed to it can always see “it”, but they will only go after the end of the chain. When the newest one is killed, it moves back up to the one who passed it on. From that point on, Hugh disappears and Jay is constantly trying to convince her friends and sister that it is real and she is not going crazy. When she finally passes it on, that is when the real artistic and creative talent of the young writer-director comes out.

What I love about the screenplay of this film is how it really creates its own rules. It is almost dreamlike in the way it portrays the followers. The feeling of being followed is spine-tingling in itself, but knowing that whatever or whoever is following is in fact trying to kill you makes it even more uncomfortable. We do not really ever find out or have any way of finding out what “it” is, but then again, we almost do not care. We are too busy watching the beautiful shots of slow-building tension of a young child, old man, or half-naked woman walking agonizingly slowly toward the characters unbeknownst to them. We are right with them in the horror of imagining exactly what they are capable of doing, especially after seeing the images of the opening scene. We would like to try to solve some sort of plot puzzle, but it is almost irrelevant. The story is not what is at the forefront here, it is the experience.

The young cast is utilized well here. Mitchell showed in Sleepover that he can direct younger actors as well as anyone, and this only furthers that sentiment. Maika Monroe (who I would say you might recognize from The Guest, but you won’t because you probably haven’t seen it) is really good here as the center of all the scares. Her character is most important, because if her frights are not convincing, we get disinterested. She makes us feel just as claustrophobic and terrified as she is. She has a sweet friendship with Paul, played by Keir Gilchrist (It’s Kind of a Funny Story). These types of elements are among the most authentic in the movie. We feel like we know the characters and we really believe the dynamics of the group. Usually the beautiful young people in films like this are almost faceless and are just there to scream and run around in terror. These characters are deep. We learn their back-stories and cannot fathom watching them get taken out. That is quite an accomplishment in a 100 minute movie spends so much of its time watching invisible characters slowly strolling down the street or across a beach.

Several critics have tried to decipher the movie and figure out what exactly “it” is and what “it” symbolizes. Most have cited AIDS or STDs, which would make sense to a certain extent. To me, it almost feels more like the lingering effects of sexual assault. After those experiences, your life is never the same. You have images and nightmares that haunt you and follow you. STDs is more of a reflection of how it is passed on and such, but that seems too simplistic. Most of the followers look as if they just got violated in some way. Just a thought…I am sure that it is open to interpretation if “it” actually does represent something.

I am not usually this taken in by a horror movie. It is a really low budget flick, but it has tremendous cinematography and set pieces. The final confrontation especially is ingeniously shot and played out. The movie somehow finished in 5^th place at the box office in its opening weekend, yet it only made $3.8M. Is that a flop, or is that an indie hit? It is playing at both art house theaters and in the main auditorium at multiplexes. It all depends on how you look at it. It wasn’t advertised all that much, but most horror films are word of mouth and viral marketing anyway. I hope it continues to build up, because it really is a worthwhile movie. I actually think it is the best horror film since [Rec] in 2008 and the most chilling one of its kind since The Descent in 2006. The end of the film absolutely leaves it open for another director to pick up where it left off with the spectacular uncertainty and lack of giving away all of the details of the story. The audience can’t shake the uneasiness that we are left with. It Follows: it lingers.

Rating: 

2015 Pre-Season Profile: San Diego Padres

After an uneventful 2014 season that saw a fourth straight losing season, the San Diego Padres had arguably the most exciting offseason in recent memory.  Will all the moves lead to success in 2015?

Last Season

77-85, 3rd in NL West

It could be said that the Padres were one of the most boring teams in baseball in 2014.  They had a solid pitching staff, but a lack of offense led to a sub-par season.  They only reason their record and standing were that good is because they happened to have the Rockies and the Diamondbacks in their division.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

To say the Padres' lineup went through a transformation this offseason would be a grand understatement.  Of the 2014 Opening Day starting lineup, only two players (Jedd Gyorko, Yonder Alonso) will remain come Opening Day 2015.  Many of the former starters will now be backing up the likes of Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Justin Upton, Will Middlebrooks, and Derek Norris.  All these players were acquired via blockbuster deals this offseason.  Add to that pitching ace and staff mentor James Shields, and you have gone from one of the most boring teams in the league to the of the best and most exciting.  Who cares what they lost?  They upgraded every position around the diamond.

Most Important Hitter

Matt Kemp

The new heart of the Padres' batting lineup now features the likes of Justin Upton and Derek Norris.  However, the player that may determine the success or failure of the 2015 season is Matt Kemp.  Only a few years removed from being votes away from winning an MVP, Kemp's career is on the rebound.  After some injury plagued seasons, he finally seemed to be back on the right track in the second half of 2014.  Kemp had, however, overstayed his welcome in the extremely crowded Dodger outfield.  If he was going to make it back to who he once was, it would be for someone else ... like the Padres.  Now the Padres are counting on the end of 2014 being a sign of things to come instead of a flash of what could have been if it weren't for another injury.

Most Important Pitcher

Andrew Cashner

After being the Padres' Opening Day starter in 2014, Andrew Cashner never lived up to the billing of ace.  Suffering through an injury plagued season, he only tallied 5 wins last year.  Now with Big Game James taking the pressure off, Cashner can live up to his potential and be the type of guy that can seemlessly slot in behind the new ace of the staff.

Player to Watch

Austin Hedges

The Padres' number two prospect, catcher Austin Hedges, is not slated to be ready until next season.  However, if they get a chance at a postseason run, look for him to be a potential impact bat off the bench a la Andrew Susac last year for the Giants.  Also, watch for Hedges to get an early look if there is an injury to Derek Norris.  However, with most of last year's starters now serving as this year's bench, don't look for many, if any, rookies to pop up with any significant time this year.

Prediction

2nd in AL West, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Game

This complete overhaul of the roster has the Padres poised for a postseason already in 2015.  They brought in enough proven bats that Petco Park will not even prevent them from scoring runs.  Add to their young pitching staff a solid ace and another year of experience, and the Padres are destined to make the biggest leap in the standings and be a contender for the foreseeable future.

2015 Pre-Season Profile: Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles worked through injuries and disappointing seasons in 2014 to top one of the most competitive and discussed divisions in baseball.  Do they have the talent to repeat in 2015?

Last Season

96-66, 1st in AL East, lost to Royals in ALCS

The 2014 season for the Baltimore Orioles had to be considered an incredible achievement.  They finished the season with the second best record in the American League, swept their way through one of the best pitching staffs in baseball by beating the Tigers in the ALDS, and if it weren't for the buzz saw that was the 2014 Kansas City Royals, they win the pennant and maybe the whole thing.  It's pretty impressive on its own, but even more when you consider what the O's had to endure.  First, All Star catcher Matt Wieters missed most of the season with an injury.  The same could be said for third base phenom Manny Machado, who at least played half the season.  The breakout star of 2013, first baseman Chris Davis, showed his performance that year may have been a fluke as he finished with a batting average under .200 and a home run total that was cut in half.  On the pitching side, Ubaldo Jimenez, the only starter with any history of success, struggled again, and closer Tommy Hunter needed to be replaced mid-season due to lack of production.  When a list like this can be made for everything that went wrong, it's amazing they didn't finish in the cellar.  However, thanks to the emergence of guys like Nelson Cruz, Steve Pearce, Chris Tillman, and new closer Zach Britton, the Orioles dominated.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

After such a strong 2014 season, many people said the Orioles were only a few pieces away from being the World Series favorites heading into 2015.  However, instead of making those few moves, the O's were disturbingly quiet.  They let Nelson Cruz, their most productive hitter in 2014, sign with the Mariners in free agency.  Team leader, Nick Markakis, left to sign with the Braves, and they let one of the best setup men in baseball, Andrew Miller, sign with the division rival Yankees.  As far as additions to replace the lost offense or help sure up an inconsistent rotation, they signed Travis Snider to play rightfield.  So ... they basically did nothing.

Most Important Hitter

Manny Machado

One of the reasons (I'm assuming) the Orioles didn't feel a need to fill what appeared to be big voids in their lineup left by Cruz and Markakis is they are expecting to have healthy, productive seasons out of some of their stars that underwhelmed last year.  The brightest of those stars that need to step up is Manny Machado.  Heading into this season healthy, the O's are expecting him to be back at the level that made him an All Star and Gold Glove winner while leading the league in doubles at the age of 20 in 2013.  He needs to show that he is back to that level of play, if not better, while also showing he is future leader and face of the franchise.  That is quite the load for a young 22 year old.

Most Important Pitcher

Zach Britton

Last year, when Tommy Hunter started the year struggling, Zach Britton came out of nowhere to finally show some of the promise everyone was expecting to see out of him from the beginning as a highly-touted starting prospect.  2014 saw him earn his first save (ended up with 37 of them) and have his first ERA that didn't hover around 5.00 (1.65 ERA in 2014).  The question going into 2015 is did this highly-talented kid finally figure it out and put it all together, or, like his burly teammate Chris Davis, did he just catch lightning in a bottle for one great year and will go back to being mediocre.  The Orioles are counting on the former being the case.

Player to Watch

Dylan Bundy

It feel like the Orioles have been waiting for the arrival of Dylan Bundy forever.  As the 4th overall pick in 2011, Bundy made his big league debut in 2012 at the age of 19.  After missing a year with Tommy John, he was working his way back to top form in 2014.  Now, it looks like the O's top prospect is on the verge of being the star they have always hoped he would be.  Look for him to pop up sometime around mid-season in their rotation.  A guy with the talent of Dylan Bundy could explain why the Orioles didn't feel the need to go spend on a big time free agent for their rotation.

Prediction

3rd in AL East

When it is all said and done, the Orioles just don't have the firepower to be competitive, let alone dominant, in 2015.  With the loss of Cruz, Markakis, and Miller, too many things have to go right.  Matt Wieters has to be the guy that looks like the best catcher in baseball right away.  Chris Davis has to go back to being his 2013 self.  Steve Pearce has to continue to play above his talent level.  Zach Britton has to follow up his career year with another one.  Guys like Chris Tillman and Wei-Yin Chen have to continue to lead the pitching staff and not have a down year.  Lastly, Manny Machado needs to be an MVP candidate.  The O's had the talent to lose players of that caliber, but now their margin of error is so much smaller.  Everything needs to go right for them to be great, and in a 162 game grind, that rarely happens.  Look for the Orioles to take a couple steps back this year, and then maybe they will try something (anything!) next offseason to actually improve their team.