AL East: I can't see the Rays missing the playoffs with their pitching staff. They are just too good. Plus their offense always seems to score just enough runs to win games. I also can't imagine a playoffs without the Yankees. Their schedule lightens up a little bit with only 3 games vs Tampa Bay and 3 vs Oakland as the only games the rest of the season against teams above .500. Sorry Orioles fans. I'm actually rooting for Baltimore to get in the playoffs. Seeing mostly Orioles fans this past weekend pack Camden Yards against the Yankees was awesome. However, Markakis is out for the year, and I still don't trust their starting pitching. Plus I don't think guys like Mark Reynolds will stay as hot at the plate as they are now. The bullpen is lights out, but its only a matter of time before the only team that has a negative run differential on the season (-29) begins to lose some ground.
AL Central: It seems like its going to come down to whatever team plays .500 the rest of the way. Every time the Tigers win 3 or 4 in a row, they seem to lose 3 or 4 in a row. The White Sox are not doing themselves any favors either by losing games to Kansas City and Minnesota. Chicago is actually 5-10 against Kansas City this year. This week's 4 game series vs Detroit (their final meeting of the year) may decide who takes this division. My guess, the White Sox hold on and make it. The Tigers have the better offensive hitters, but the White Sox have a much deeper lineup. Plus, I've waited too long for Detroit to put together a run. I'm giving up on them.
AL West: I can't see the Rangers blowing the division lead. Who wins the other wild card is a tough call for me. My heart says Oakland, but with the way the Angels have been playing lately, it's hard to see them not getting in. They have won 11 of their past 12, and the bullpen has really stepped up after early season struggles. It's hard to believe Mike Trout is only 21 years old, but he will lead this team into the playoffs. If it weren't for the terrible injury to Brandon McCarthy, I would have said Oakland wins the 2nd wild card. Having 4 rookie starting pitchers will hurt this team's chances. The innings are starting to catch up on rookie Jarrod Parker as his ERA is north of 4.50 in the 2nd half. The playoff pressures will hurt this team down the stretch due to the inexperience. This could all be decided this week as Oakland and the Angels play a 4 game series in LA.
Recap: AL East Champ - Tampa Bay, AL Central Champ - Chicago, AL West Champ - Texas, 1st Wild Card - Angels, 2nd Wild Card - Yankees.
NL East: Even with the Strasburg shutdown the Nationals will win the East. The Braves will also coast into the 1st wild card. My surprise team is the Phillies. Yes the Phillies. They have quietly gotten themselves right back in it. They are 6 games back of the 2nd wild card and have won 8 of their last 10 games. With this pitching staff, you really can't count them out. I'm going out on a limb here. That's right. The Phillies are getting in the playoffs.
NL Central: The Reds clinched this division in July. The Cardinals are struggling and the Pirates are hanging around, but only because of the struggles of the Cardinals. I can't see the Pirates getting in due to the inconsistent pitching and the offense also struggling. I want to say the Cardinals get in, but they haven't pitched well lately and they used up all of the mojo the baseball gods give during last year's playoff run.
NL West: The Giants are going to win this division by 7 or 8 games. They are that good. Buster Posey has played himself into MVP consideration. The Dodgers are struggling. The loss of Chad Billingsly is going to hurt them a lot. He was lights out before he got hurt. Josh Beckett has been decent, but for whatever reason, this team is not coming together the way everyone thought they would once Boston game them half their roster. They have lost 8 of their past 11. Sorry Dodgers fans. At least you know your new owners will spend millions of dollars this off-season.
Recap: NL East Champ - Washington, NL Central Champ - Reds, NL West Champ - Giants, 1st Wild Card - Braves, 2nd Wild Card - Phillies.
With tomorrow being the 11th anniversary of 9/11, I thought I would end today's blog with a video. I hate that nobody invites this guy to sing anymore due to some "issues" he had, but this guy sings the best rendition of God Bless America that I have ever heard.
