Half-way through the 2008 Season

Right about now is the half-way point for the 2008 MLB season. Most teams have played around 81 games, so to determine a player's statistical pace for the year it is a simple "times two" calculation.

Here are my thoughts on some players so far.

Disappointing first half:

• David Ortiz -- .252, 13 HR, 43 RBI
• Carlos Pena -- .223, 11 HR, 36 RBI
• Robinson Cano -- .244, 6 HR, 33 RBI
• Vernon Wells -- .286, 8 HR, 36 RBI
• Alex Rios -- .281, 4 HR, 29 RBI (does have 16 SB)
• Paul Konerko -- .215, 8 HR, 30 RBI
• Delmon Young -- .282, 1 HR, 26 RBI (does have 9 SB)
• Miguel Cabrera -- .279, 11 HR, 47 RBI
• Gary Sheffield -- .224 5 HR, 16 RBI in only 156 AB
• Travis Hafner -- .217, 4 HR, 22 RBI in only 157 AB
• Victor Martinez -- .278, 0 HR, 21 RBI
• Kenji Johjima -- .233, 3 HR, 20 RBI
• Richie Sexson -- .220, 9 HR, 26 RBI
• Jimmy Rollins -- .264, 6 HR, 28 RBI (does have 17 SB)
• Ryan Zimmerman -- .257, 8 HR, 27 RBI
• Rickie Weeks -- .217, 7 HR, 22 RBI (does have 11 SB, 47 runs)
• Adam LaRoche -- .220, 7 HR, 31 RBI
• Ken Griffey -- .234, 9 HR, 34 RBI
• Eric Byrnes -- .205, 6 HR, 23 RBI (and only 4 SB)
• Andruw Jones -- .165, 2 HR, 7 RBI in only 133 AB
• Todd Helton -- .267, 7 HR, 28 RBI
• Khalil Greene -- .229, 8 HR, 31 RBI
• Justin Verlander -- 4-9, 4.42 ERA (improving recently)
• Jason Isringhausen -- 11 saves, 5.74 ERA
• Ian Snell -- 3-7, 5.99 ERA
• Roy Oswalt -- 6-8, 4.77 ERA
• Aaron Harang -- 3-10, 4.51 ERA (pitching better than his record indicates)
• Brad Penny -- 5-9, 5.88 ERA
• Barry Zito -- 3-11, 5.91 ERA (the definition of disappointment, given his mammoth contract)

Working on breakout seasons:

• Carlos Quentin -- .289, 18 HR, 60 RBI. He had been a prospect for a few years, but it wasn't clear if he was going to come through.
• Evan Longoria -- .271, 15 HR, 47 RBI (rookie, started season in AAA)
• Joakim Soria -- 21 Saves, 1.29 ERA. He had a fine rookie season, pitching in 62 games and getting 17 saves with a 2.48 ERA. But this year he has picked it up a notch.
• Rich Harden -- although injured a bit (per usual), he is 5-0 with a 2.15 ERA, and 83 K in 67 IP. If he can stay healthy for all of the second half (a big if), then this could be his best season yet.
• Justin Duchscherer -- 8-5, 1.91 ERA. After many years in the pen, he seems to be blossoming at age 30.
• Ian Kinsler -- .318, 13 HR, 50 RBI, 70 Runs, 25 doubles, 20 SB. Multiply by two and this is a great season!
• Josh Hamilton -- .309, 19 HR, 78 RBI. What a story this guy is!
• Jair Jurrjens -- 8-3 with a 2.94 ERA. A nice pickup by Atlanta from Detroit.
• Geovany Soto -- .280, 13 HR, 47 RBI are great for a catcher. This is his first full season, and he's only 25.
• Ryan Ludwick -- .286, 16 HR, 56 RBI. He did hit 14 HR last year in 303 at-bats, but few would have predicted this first half for him at age 29.
• Ben Sheets -- 9-1 and a 2.59 ERA. Seems like every year people predict he'll breakout -- it is finally happening for him at age 29.
• Nate McLouth -- .283, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 59 runs, 26 doubles, 9 SB. With Nady having a good year, and Bay a comeback of the year candidate, this OF trio gives the Pirates something to be cheer for.
• Edinson Volquez -- 10-3, 2.08 ERA, with 110 K in 99.3 IP. He hadn't shown much in brief stints for three years in Texas, but at age 24 he is showing us something!
• Tim Lincecum -- 9-1, 2.38 ERA. At age 24 and in his second season, he has stud written all over him.

Some other surprises so far this year:

• Troy Percival's comeback at age 39. He has 18 saves and a 3.08 ERA, after 8 saves in 2005, not playing in 2006, and 0 saves in 40 IP in 2007.
• Mariano Rivera's return to dominance at age 38. He has 22 saves and a microscopic 0.74 ERA. At this rate, he is on pace to have his best statistical season ever -- and that is saying a lot!
• Mike Mussina having a solid season at age 39. He is 10-5 with a 3.93 ERA. He's never won 20 games, but is on pace to barely do so this year (likely won't).
• Cliff Lee going 11-1 with a 2.34 ERA, after going 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA last year. He was 18-5 in 2005, so no one would have said this was impossible, but I doubt many predicted it either.
• Ervin Santana is 9-3, 3.32 ERA. After going 16-8 in 2006, he went 7-14 with a 5.76 ERA last year.
• Joe Saunders is 11-4 with a 3.06 ERA. In his first two seasons he went 7-3 and 8-5.
• Milton Bradley -- .329, 16 HR, 49 RBI. If you can figure this guy out, you win a prize.
• Brad Lidge has 19 saves and a 0.84 ERA. He was a bit of question mark when the season began, given his inconsistencies the last two years.
• Chipper Jones is hitting an insane .394, and has 16 HR with 46 RBI. He did hit .337 with 29 HR and 102 RBI last year, and he usually hits over .300. But still... .394?

Some impressive paces:

• Francisco Rodriguez -- 31 saves and a 2.06 ERA. That is a pace for 62 saves, which would break Bobby Thigpen's record of 57.
• Chase Utley -- 23 HR and 65 RBI times two is 46 HR and 130 RBI -- quite a pace for a 2B.
• Dan Uggla -- 23 HR and 58 RBI times two is 46 HR and 116 RBI -- also not a bad pace for a 2B.
• Lance Berkman -- .366, 21 HR, 66 RBI, 27 doubles, 70 runs. A great pace, but he is a great hitter. What is surprising though is his 12 SB, which is already more than his previous career best of 9.
• Chipper Jones -- .394... can he stay close to .400? He has a chance if he takes days off now and then.
• Ryan Howard -- 113 strikeouts, on pace for 226, which would break the record that he set last year with 199.
• The following pitchers have 10 or more wins, and hence are on pace for 20-win seasons: Brandon Webb 12, Cliff Lee 11, Joe Saunders 11, Mike Mussina 10, Vincente Padilla 10, Aaron Cook 10, Edinson Volquez 10. Eight others have 9. We should end up with more 20-game winners than in some recent season.

It might be time to retire:

• Todd Jones -- 14 saves, 4.94. He is 40, and the Tigers desperately need to find a closer to replace him (injuries have slowed a few candidates).
• Tom Glavine -- 2-3 with a 4.85 ERA. 42 years old.
• Pedro Martinez -- 2-2 with a 7.12 ERA. At 36, he'll might give it another few seasons, but he is hurting his lifetime ERA at this rate!
• Randy Johnson -- 4-6, 4.94 ERA. Still strikes hitters out: 76 K in 82 IP. But at age 44, it looks like it will be tough to get 12 more wins to reach 300.
• Jeff Kent -- .251, 8 HR, 34 RBI. He is 40, and that .292 OBP isn't pretty.
• Omar Vizquel -- .161, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 2 SB, in only 118 at-bats. At age 41, I hope he calls it quits soon.