It’s time for this group to step up to the plate

Sunday baseball notes

July 10, 2011|By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

With the All-Star break nearly upon us, it’s time to look at the 20 men who must step up in the second half in order for their teams to generate that final push for the playoffs:

1. Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals - Pujols wasn’t himself, then broke his wrist, and was left off the All-Star team for only the second time. He’s in his contract year and we expect a big second half if he’s physically able. Pujols could be the difference in propelling the Cardinals past the pack that includes Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati.

2. Carl Crawford, LF, Red Sox - What’s it gonna be, boom or bust? The high-priced free agent acquisition has missed a month with a hamstring injury, but is scheduled to return this week. Will we see the player in which the Sox invested seven years and $142 million, or the fraction of that player we’ve seen so far? The Sox need Crawford performing well to make this lineup truly head and shoulder above others.

3. CC Sabathia, LHP, Yankees - He’d better not get hurt. There’s no player more valuable and who is tied in more to the Yankees’ present and future success than Sabathia.

4. Roy Oswalt, RHP, Phillies - If he does, indeed, return in late August and he’s the money pitcher he’s always been, pencil in the Phillies for the National League pennant. They will have their Big Four intact and there won’t be a team that can boot them off their perch.

5. Ichiro Suzuki, RF, Mariners - The Mariners are in the AL West race, but unless Ichiro gives them the Ichiro of the last 10 seasons, it likely won’t happen for them. Ichiro has had the worst first half of his career, and failed to make the All-Star Game for the first time. There’s certainly pressure on general manager Jack Zduriencik to make a deal for a hitter, but Ichiro is the catalyst.

6. Aubrey Huff, OF, Giants - One of the keys to the Giants’ success last season, the cleanup hitter has been awful. His numbers (.238 average, .290 on-base percentage, .364 slugging percentage) aren’t cutting it. If he starts hitting, the Giants won’t need to give away the farm to get a bat. With a productive Huff and Pablo Sandoval, they’ll score enough runs to back their superior pitching.

7. Zack Greinke, RHP, Brewers - Considering what the Brewers gave up to get him and how much they’re paying him, they need him to be a lot better than his 5.45 ERA. Greinke needs to be an ace if the Brewers hope to play in October.

8. Joe Mauer, C, Twins - Mauer missed two-plus months with bilateral leg weakness, and when he played he didn’t play well. The Twins have made a bit of a comeback, but it won’t matter if Mauer doesn’t carry this offense.

READER COMMENTS »

View reader comments » Comment on this story »