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Prospectus Hit List for April 8



by Matt Sussman

Hit List for April 5 Hit List for April 9
Teams are ordered based on Adjusted Hit List Factor, a computer generated number, and the author isn't responsible for the order of the teams.

This article is such a joke! Or, rather, a series of them.

RkTmWLW1W2W3HLFAHLFWin Div%Win WC%Playoff%1-Day7-Day
1

4

2

4.2

5.2

5.3

.675

.657

59.5%

21.5%

81.0%

3.4%

6.0%

Among qualified hitters, Luis Cruz is the only one without a hit (0-for-17). He has drawn one walk and it was intentional. At least that's what it says on this card.
2

5

2

5.1

5.3

4.9

.618

.637

15.9%

20.3%

36.2%

1.7%

2.1%

After that sweep of Houston, the A's have lost to the Astros a total of one time in 10 games.
3

4

2

4.6

4.2

4.0

.613

.632

25.0%

19.3%

44.3%

4.8%

8.2%

Will Middlebrooks's three home runs on Sunday matches the Dodgers' season to date.
4

4

2

3.7

4.2

4.0

.608

.627

41.2%

24.6%

65.8%

2.8%

11.2%

In a landmark moment, Lance Berkman's home run last night was the first in MLB history by a retired auto worker.
5

4

2

4.5

4.1

4.1

.631

.613

67.4%

12.2%

79.7%

2.0%

1.5%

Career .355 slugger Ryan Hanigan is the only National League player to be intentionally walked more than once. Ah, the joys of hitting eighth in the National League.
6

5

1

4.9

4.9

4.5

.622

.603

2.2%

5.8%

8.0%

0.4%

3.4%

You're looking at the early MLB leader in home runs. Without looking, I will assume the team leader is Dante Bichette.
7

5

1

3.9

4.2

4.0

.619

.600

22.7%

29.6%

52.3%

4.7%

11.4%

Heath Bell may as well cut straight to the Todd Jones mustache.
8

5

1

4.6

3.8

3.6

.610

.591

27.4%

19.7%

47.1%

2.5%

6.2%

B.J. Upton, as it turns out, stands for "Melvin Emmanuel." I thought it was "Brother of Justin."
9

4

2

3.4

3.8

3.8

.547

.566

10.5%

8.3%

18.8%

1.2%

1.1%

Friends come and go, and nations rise and fall. But I can always count on you, Adam Dunn's batting average, to be there for me in the low .200s.
10

4

2

4.4

4.1

3.7

.583

.563

14.3%

14.4%

28.7%

1.2%

1.8%

If a knuckleballer can win a Cy Young in New York, then 31-year-old Scott Rice can win Rookie of the Year, because nerts to your predispositions.
11

3

3

3.5

3.7

3.5

.534

.554

16.4%

13.8%

30.2%

1.9%

1.2%

Before Sunday, the last time they smacked five dingers was April 18 2009. In that game, they scored 22 runs against the Yankees — and 14 in one inning. Also, bread cost ... probably less?
12

3

3

3.5

4.0

4.0

.533

.553

1.8%

3.3%

5.1%

-2.6%

-1.4%

Remember how they were 29-9 in one-run games last year? They're 0-3 in such contests this year. Cue the regression trombone.
13

2

4

2.9

3.3

3.5

.525

.545

37.2%

26.8%

63.9%

-1.2%

-3.7%

It took only six games for them to finally turn their first double play. They were the last in the league to do that.
14

3

3

2.7

3.0

3.0

.524

.544

64.9%

11.7%

76.7%

-3.9%

0.4%

Yes, the bullpen is turning into a crumbling barrier, but they clearly need to find some big bats to give some lineup protection to Matt Tuiasosopo.
15

3

3

3.7

3.3

3.3

.514

.534

7.5%

8.5%

16.0%

2.9%

1.8%

Billy Butler knocking in seven RBIs while playing first base is a great argument for and against the designated hitter, depending on your opinion.
16

4

2

3.3

3.4

3.6

.500

.520

0.7%

0.8%

1.6%

-0.4%

0.2%

Still bugs the tar out of me that no two players on the Twins look identical.
17

3

4

3.2

3.6

4.0

.488

.508

5.7%

10.6%

16.3%

-2.0%

-1.4%

So far Michael Morse is playing out to be the most successful take-backsie since the re-election of Grover Cleveland.
18

3

3

4.2

2.5

2.6

.508

.488

16.1%

17.6%

33.8%

5.6%

2.5%

Their 14 runs against the Giants is the first time a team scored that many with no home runs since last April, when the Rockies put up 17 against ... the Giants.
19

3

3

2.3

1.9

2.0

.461

.481

24.2%

20.0%

44.2%

-4.5%

-3.8%

Three earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. What's wrong with Fernando Rodney? Whoa, Angels fans, not all at once.
20

4

2

2.2

2.4

2.4

.497

.477

44.8%

18.0%

62.8%

-3.9%

2.8%

Denard Span has been setting the table well. Until he joined the team, forks and napkins were just strewn about everywhere.
21

2

4

2.1

2.0

2.1

.453

.473

38.0%

18.3%

56.4%

2.7%

-9.4%

After that home run, you might think Jayson Nix has Justin Verlander's number, but no. Verlander is 35, Nix is 17.
22

3

3

1.6

2.4

2.7

.461

.441

14.0%

23.4%

37.4%

-4.0%

-5.9%

They've allowed an MLB-best one home run so far — and it was to Clayton Kershaw.
23

2

4

1.8

1.8

1.9

.418

.438

11.0%

13.4%

24.4%

-3.3%

-6.3%

It's a shame Canadian customs don't allow foreign knuckleballs to be imported into the country. Why even HAVE a NAFTA?
24

2

4

1.6

2.0

2.0

.409

.390

12.6%

11.6%

24.2%

-2.7%

-7.8%

Cole Hamels has never allowed eight earned runs in a start until he faced the Royals yesterday.
25

2

4

1.9

1.8

1.7

.392

.373

6.0%

6.7%

12.8%

-2.4%

-2.7%

Jeff Samardzija's K/9 rate is nearly eligible for a learner's permit in most states.
26

1

5

1.5

1.5

1.7

.360

.342

4.8%

6.1%

10.9%

-2.6%

-4.6%

Can you guess which team is the only with zero pitching wins from its starting rotation? Hint: Milwaukee Br_wers.
27

1

5

1.5

1.9

2.1

.348

.330

0.8%

1.2%

2.0%

-0.4%

-0.5%

Steve Cishek shelled in save chance by the seashore.
28

1

5

1.6

1.3

1.0

.347

.329

5.5%

7.1%

12.7%

-2.1%

-8.8%

One way to score eight runs in your first six games is to have a team slash line of .119/.188/.159. Another way is to hit eight home runs and then forfeit the rest of the week.
29

1

5

0.7

0.8

1.0

.308

.291

1.6%

5.0%

6.6%

-1.8%

-5.5%

Their upcoming schedule looks very favorable, provided you are referring to their weather forecast.
30

1

5

1.2

0.4

0.6

.261

.277

0.1%

0.2%

0.2%

-0.1%

-0.2%

They're the only team without a stolen base or an official attempt at one. Stealing is wrong, but it's okay in baseball — it's in the rulebook!