Athlete of the Month, January 2019

last year

James Harden.

Runners-up: Trevor Lawrence, Ndamukong Suh, Tom Brady

One month down, 11 to go in the Race for the 2019 Athlete of the Year.

January-James Harden

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (AL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 5)

last group

This is it.  1 spot left in the American League Elite 8.  Winner takes on the 2017 Houston Astros

5. 2018 Astros (lost ALCS-AJ Hinch)

v.

37. 1938 Yankees (World Champions-Joe McCarthy)

Catcher: Stassi (27) v. Dickey (31) Winner: NYY-Dickey

First Base: Gurriel (34) v. Gehrig (35) Winner: NYY-Gehrig

Second Base: Altuve (28) v. Gordon (23)  Winner: Astros-Altuve

Shortstop: Correa (23) v. Crosetti (27)  Winner: NYY-Crosetti

Third Base: Bregman (24) v. Rolfe (29) Winner: Astros-Bregman

Left Field: Gonzalez (29) v. Selkirk (30)  Winner: Astros-Gonzalez

Center Field: Marisnick (27) v. DiMaggio (23) Winner: NYY-DiMaggio

Right Field: Reddick (31) v. Henrich (25)Winner: NYY-Henrich

DH: Gattis (31) v. Hoag (30) Winner: Hou-Gattis

SP1: Verlander (35) v.  Ruffing (33)  Winner: Hou-Verlander

SP2: Keuchel (30) v. Gomez (29)Winner: NYY-Gomez

SP3: Cole (27) v. Pearson (29)Winner: Hou-Cole

Closer: Rondon (30) v. Murphy (29) Winner: Hou-Rondon

Team Offense: NYY

Team Pitching: Astros

Astros 9 Yankees 8 - Yankees offense against Astros pitching - super, super close; but the Astros just do edge out the Bombers to move into the sweet 16.

The 2018 Houston Astros - one of the 16 greatest teams in American League history.

117. 1980 Orioles (2nd in AL East-no playoffs-Earl Weaver)

v.

44.  1934 Tigers (lost WS-Mickey Cochrane)

Catcher: Dempsey (30) v. Cochrane (31) Winner: Tigers-Cochrane

First Base: Murray (24) v. Greenberg (23)` Winner: Tigers-Greenberg

Second Base: Dauer (27) v. Gehringer (31) Winner: Tigers-Gehringer

Shortstop: Belanger (36) v. Rogell (28) Winner: Tigers-Rogell

Third Base: DeCinces (29) v. Owen (28) Winner: Orioles-DeCinces

Left Field: Lowenstein (33) v. Goslin (33)  Winner: Tigers-Goslin

Center Field: Bumbry (33) v. White (25) Winner: Orioles-Bumbry

Right Field: Singleton (33) v. Fox (25) Winner: Orioles-Singleton

DH: Crowley (33) v.  Walker (26) Winner: Push

SP1: McGregor (26) v. Bridges (27) Winner: Tigers-Bridges

SP2: Flanagan (28) v. Rowe (24) Winner: Tigers-Rowe

SP3: Stone (32) v. Marberry (35)  Winner: Orioles-Stone

Closer: Stoddard (27) v. Auker (23)  Winner: Tigers-Auker

Team Offense: Tigers

Team Pitching: Push

Tigers 10 Orioles 4 - easy pickings for Detroit, the Tigers move into the sweet 16.

The 1934 Detroit Tigers -one of the 16 greatest teams in American League history.

5. 2018 Astros (lost ALCS-AJ Hinch)
v.
44.  1934 Tigers (lost WS-Mickey Cochrane)

Catcher: Stassi (27)  v. Cochrane (31) Winner: Tigers-Cochrane

First Base: Gurriel (34) v. Greenberg (23)` Winner: Tigers-Greenberg

Second Base: Altuve (28)  v. Gehringer (31) Winner: Tigers-Gehringer

Shortstop: Correa (23) v. Rogell (28) Winner: Tigers-Rogell

Third Base: Bregman (24) v. Owen (28) Winner: Astros-Bregman

Left Field: Gonzalez (29) v. Goslin (33)  Winner: Tigers-Goslin

Center Field: Marisnick (27) v. White (25) Winner: Tigers-White

Right Field: Reddick (31)  v. Fox (25) Winner: Astros-Reddick

DH: Gattis (31)v.  Walker (26) Winner: Tigers-Walker

SP1: Verlander (35) v. Bridges (27) Winner: Astros-Verlander

SP2: Keuchel (30) v. Rowe (24) Winner: Tigers-Rowe

SP3: Cole (27) v. Marberry (35)  Winner: Astros-Cole

Closer: Rondon (30) v. Auker (23)  Winner: Tigers-Auker

Team Offense: Tigers

Team Pitching: Astros

Tigers 11 Astros 6 - Detroit's offensive advantage just swarms the Astros and the Tigers claim the last spot in the Elite 8.

The 1934 Detroit Tigers - one of the 8 greatest teams in American League history.

Tomorrow - we break down the Elite 8 matchups - the tournament reaches the very best teams in AL history.