As summer draws to a close, so does yet another season of baseball. While many are ready to transition to the football season, eight teams will be preparing for a playoff run.
The Yankees are in possession of the league’s best record at 91-50. Barring a major collapse, they have all but punched their postseason ticket. The team has prospered behind the powerful arms of C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, as well as an offense that leads the majors in hits, runs scored and home runs. The most successful team in baseball history has its sights set firmly on a 27th World Series title. It may be tough to get there, however. They may have to go through a team that has become a perennial thorn in their side come October: the Angels.
Still sporting perhaps the most ludicrous name change in sports history, the recently elongated Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are finally starting to separate themselves in the wild American League West. They have made this late-year push thanks to a balanced lineup, solid pitching and sound fundamental. The team is the product of Manager Mike Scioscia, whose legacy has yielded just one World Series ring. With speed on the bases and some solid pitching, Scioscia will be looking for his second.
With the Phillies and Dodgers showing significant flaws over the past month, the Cardinals have emerged as the team to beat in the National League. Since trading for slugger Matt Holliday, St. Louis is 32-11, which is the best record in the league. Holliday is hitting a red-hot .379 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI in 43 games with the Cardinals. With the pairing of Holliday and Albert Pujols and a rotation that includes the likes of Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Joel Piñeiro, Cardinals fans may be looking at another World Series birth this year.
After the three top teams, a group of seven are vying for the final five spots. The Tigers, Phillies and Dodgers seem to have the inside track to playoff spots, but all three have shown themselves to be vulnerable over the course of the season. Detroit, even with its formidable pitching trio of Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Rick Porcello, must show that an offense ranked 10th in the American League in runs scored can consistently put points on the board.
The Phillies have major flaws especially since closer Brad Lidge seemed unhittable a year ago, is now the Major League leader in blow saves with 10. Continuing in the National League, the Dodgers have finally begun to show some flaws. They looked nearly unbeatable, after having the best record in the majors for much of the season. Young ace Chad Billingsley’s late season slide has made a once dominant pitching staff a question mark heading down the home stretch.
Both wild card spots are still up in the air, leaving fans with a treat. There is a likelihood of meaningful games right down to the wire. In the AL, the Red Sox have recently begun to separate themselves a bit from the surprising Texas Rangers.
Pitching has made tremendous strides in the Rangers organization this year. The leadership of new pitching coach Mike Maddux and the watchful eye of Hall of Fame Team President Nolan Ryan has certainly made an impact. The Rangers lineup has certainly done its job this season, scoring runs in bunches. With time running out, Texas will need its pitching to hold it together to capture the final spot.
Look for the Red Sox to take the final spot this year, and for Texas to have a great season upon which to build their 2010 campaign. Boston simply has too much veteran depth, especially in the pitching department, to miss the postseason this time around.
In the NL, the race for the wild card is a strictly Western affair with the Rockies and Giants battling each other — and recently the Dodgers — for the final spot. The Rockies have certainly been the hottest of late, winning seven straight to move four and a half games ahead of the Giants. However, San Francisco and Colorado play a pivotal series starting Monday against the Rockies. With Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, a resurgent Barry Zito, Randy Johnson, Jonathan Sanchez and now Brad Penny on the mound, the Giants are certainly not hurting for arms. If their offense can score runs down the stretch, look for San Francisco to make things very interesting out west.
You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
