MLB 2011: Top Players from each team in National League – Part 5
Carlos Lee has sustained his reputation as a solid force in the line-up for 12 years at Major League Baseball and would be vital element in the planning of the Houston Astros who attempt to resurge after a lacklustre 2011 season.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been in tough contention with the San Francisco Giants for the top notch in the National League West division and have finally managed to topple the reigning World Champions late in the season.
Ian Kennedy has been at the core of this methodological defeat of the Giants with his immaculate pitching from the mound. The right-handed starting pitcher has the best winning percentage in the National League and is a strong contender for the Cy Young
award this season. The pitching sensation has not lost a game since July 8 and has continued to strike-out batters at will. His first four years at the Majors have been tremendous and this hard working pitcher is expected to improve further as he digs deep
into his career.
The Diamondbacks will want Kennedy to continue with his magical spell to help his team keep an upper-hand on the Giants as both teams continue to battle it out at the top of their division.
San Francisco Giants have one of the best pitching outfits in the Majors but their batting has disappointed this season and is rated 29th in MLB out of the total 30 teams.
Their right-handed relief pitcher Brian Wilson has been at top of his game this season and his selection to the All-Star pitching staff and the subsequent famous last inning have depicted how talented he is at the mound. Even after slipping in form in comparison
to last season, Wilson continues to save games as they come and has rarely dropped a chance. He would be vital for the Giants as they look to regain their leaders’ spot and a possible berth in the playoffs.
The Colorado Rockies are certainly out of contention this season but their first baseman, Todd Helton has impressed this season with his faultless performance on the plate and on first base. The 37-year-old has displayed all what he has learned in his 14
years at the Majors and has rightly been the best player in the Rockies’ bull-pen.
Helton has a long list of honours to his credit which include three Gold Glove Awards, four consecutive Silver Slugger Awards from 2000 to 2003 and a Hank Aaron Award in 2000. It will be interesting to see how long he continues his domination at the Majors
before he finally calls it a day.
Clayton Kershaw has been by far the best player this season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The right-handed starting pitcher has dominated every team that he has played against and strike-out batters at
will can be termed as his stronghold.
The Dodgers were not able to concentrate on their game this season but Kershaw, along with a few other players, did not let his game slip and this is where he succeeded. He is still in his fourth year at the Majors and is expected to do wonders in his career.
He will be a great strength for the Dodgers when they begin their next campaign which is expected to be free from all controversies.
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