Did I tell you, or did I tell you? Don't count out the Phillies. Well once again my prognosticating has been correct. Curse you brain, why must you always be right about the wrong things! But on to other issues. Today we're going to continue our Mid-Season Review of my pre-season predictions. We covered the National League last time, and now we're going to move on to the Junior Circuit. But first a quick question. Do you know why the American League is the Junior Circuit and the National League is the Senior Circuit?
In my predictions I was very boring when it came to the AL East. And unfortunately for all us Yankee-haters out there, I'm being proven somewhat correct. Currently the Yanks hold the best record in the baseball with a 56-32 standing. They have been well balanced with lengthy pitching from starters like C.C. Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, and Phil Hughes. Closer Mariano Rivera is having a fantastic year at the age of 40. And hits and homers are being contributed from all around the lineup card. AL Final Man All-Star Nick Swisher is having a great year, and 2B Robinson Cano is still batting an outstanding .336. While Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez aren't having quite the years they are used to, they are still getting the job done. And it always helps your chances to win when you have eight players voted to the All-Star game, even if all of them can't actually play in it.
All this is making it difficult for the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays to catch up. The Rays were off to an incredibly hot start earlier in the year, but they have cooled off in spurts. They are currently in second place in the AL East, but hold the second-best record in baseball. The Red Sox on the other hand, started off terribly, but then came on like gangbusters of late. Hitting the ball out of every park and getting outstanding pitching from guys like Jon Lester who has an 11-3 record with an almost 3-1 strikeout/walk ratio, and Clay Buchholz who is 10-4 with an itty-bitty 2.45 ERA. However, injuries are taking their toll on the Red Sox. But much like the Phillies, you can't count out the Red Sox just yet. Like I said in my original predictions, I wouldn't be surprised to see any of these teams take the AL East or the Wild Card. So this division will most likely come down to the wire, like it has for the past several years.
One division I was less correct about was the AL West. I came to the conclusion that the L.A.A. Angels would take the West in the long-run. And while the Angels aren't having a bad year, the injury to stud first-baseman Kendry Morales has really hurt this club. Morales provided average and power to the middle of the lineup, and with him gone due to a broken leg, the lineup has struggled. Especially of late the Angels have had a hard time getting both solid pitching and consistent hitting, resulting in a 2-8 record in their last ten games. And now with the Texas Rangers making possibly the biggest trade of the year, it looks as though the Angels might have to settle for second place this year.
Yes that's right folks, the Texas Rangers unloaded a few key prospects from their overflowing minor leagues to get Mr. Lee. Mr. Cliff Lee that is, from the Seattle Mariners. It's often much harder for a team to trade within its own division, but Texas pulled it off. They now have the ace they needed to add depth to the young pitching rotation. And with Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero, Nelson Cruz, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and other talented individuals in the lineup, Lee may have another Cy Young season in store, despite his rough first outing. Most analysts are now saying the Rangers can run away with the division, which I don't like to count on. But if any division in baseball is a lock by mid-season, this one would have to be it.
Now on to one of my best predictions thus far. In my earlier blog I wrote "Now anything is possible and I wouldn't at all be surprised if either the Tigers or the Twins actually take the division, but I am betting that Chicago will have a stellar year, making it tough for those other teams to catch up." But picking the Chicago White Sox is not the part I'm most proud of, since Chicago currently stands in second place. I'm proud of the fact that very few analysts picked the Detroit Tigers to do well this year. But here they are, in first place. They are on a current five-game win streak, while the Pale Sox have a seven-game streak to match. Meanwhile the Twins have been fading fast, losing their last four in a row. Nothing against the Twins mind you, but I said their lack of pitching depth might hurt them, and with exception of Carl Pavano who is having a comeback year, this rotation is faltering fairly regularly. Other starters like Franciso Liriano switch from brilliant, to getting slaughtered every other start, and Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn have ERAs of 4.87 and 6.40 respectively. That is not a recipe for success right there.
The Minnesota Twins do have a hot bat in the likes of Justin Morneau who is hitting .345 with 18 bombs. Plus, the Twins General Manager Bill Smith is willing to take a plunge on a big trade. It was reported that the Twins were very interested in Cliff Lee before the Rangers snatched him up. So look for the Twins to respond by adding an arm or a bat before the trading deadline. Will it be enough however? Well, I'm sticking with my guns on this one. I think the White Sox rotation will win out in the end and that Chicago will take the division. But again I'll restate that I think either the Tigers or the Twins have the potential to fight for the AL Central all the way to the end of September.
So I've been pretty accurate so far in regards to the American League. I thought the Rangers would be good, but just not as good as they have been. Much like the Reds in the NL. I've been right so far about the Yankees. Big whoop. And I'm very pleasantly surprised that I didn't do so bad in the American League Central Division either. But there is a lot more baseball to play folks. Can you believe the baseball season is half over already though?! True, the All-Star break is a little bit more way than half of the season, but whatever. It's certain that these next couple of months will be hard fought all over the Major Leagues. I, for one, am looking forward to it.
P.S. While I was not a fan of the way he conducted business, all of baseball will mourn the passing of George Steinbrenner, who died today, July 13, 2010 at the age of 80. He was the driving force behind the re-establishment of the N.Y. Yankees as the premiere franchise in all of sports. And he was a reportedly devoted family man. I'm sure the All-Star will take the time to remember this larger than life character. George, it wouldn't have been the same without ya!
No comments:
Post a Comment