Baseball Standings
By Tom Grout
August 18, 2008
Today I thought it would be interesting to look at the standings in Major League Baseball. Most of the contenders are the same but there are a few different ones.
Since the Twins are in the American League Central Division lets look at that one first. As of this writing the Twins and the Chicago White Sox are tied for the division lead and I think the two teams will be fighting it out until the end. Before the season started the baseball pundits, including myself, was ready to give the division to the Detroit Tigers with the Cleveland Indians battling them all the way. So much for that and so much for winning the division on paper.
The Tigers are 10 ½ games behind the White Sox and Twins and have all but given up and the Indians are behind them. Since I am a die hard Twins fan I will pick the Twins to win it by a game over the White Sox. The Twins bullpen and the fact that the Twins starters can’t seem to make it through the sixth inning does scare me a little bit.
The American League East looks to be a battle between two teams and guess what? One of them is not the Yankees. The Boston Red Sox are perennial contenders and they are again but as of now they are 4 ½ games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have been the surprise team of baseball. They have been one of the worst teams in the league for years but now all those number one draft picks they have earned through their futility have made good and now they are in first place and have been throughout most of the season.
I don’t think the Red Sox are the same team they have been in recent years. They may or may not miss Manny Rameriz in their lineup and they have had some key injuries to Mike Lowell, David Ortiz and some of their pitchers. What will help the Sox is that the Rays have run into the injury bug themselves. Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria are on the DL here late in the season so we will see if the Rays can hold them off. Unfortunately if I am going to make a prediction I think the Red Sox will pull it out. I hope not though.
In the AL West the LA Angels have it wrapped up as they lead the Rangers by 15 ½ games. The Angels may be the best overall team in the American League and they have proven they will do anything and make any move to insure that. The Angels will not only win the West but will be the American League Champions so Torii Hunter will finally play in the World Series.
The New York Mets lead the National League East by 2 games over the Phillies and 4 ½ games against the Marlins. I don’t think the Mets are that great of a team and has a few holes so they will battle the Phillies until the end. I really think the Phillies are the better team but for some reason they just can’t get over the hump. So the Mets will hang on and win the East. Of course injuries to either team will make a difference.
Arizona and the Dodgers are tied for first in the NL West. This could prove to be as exciting a race as the AL Central. These teams are evenly matched and both have done what they think is necessary to win this year. The big catch going to the Dodgers as they acquired Manny Rameriz. We all know when Manny wants to play he is one heck of a player and can carry a team. I think the Dodgers will win this one at the wire.
Is this going to be the Chicago Cubs year? The Cubs lead the NL Central 5 ½ games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs have led all year and seem to have a team in place to not only win the Central, but finally get into the Series. They are maybe the best all round team in the National League. I really like the Brewers. They have a very good young hitting team and with the addition of C.C. Sabathia their pitching staff has really improved. With a better bullpen the Brewers will be the team to beat after this year.
As I write this today I think the Cubs will play the Angels in the World Series with the Angels coming out on top.
I agree with your assessment and am still astonished at the accomplishments of the Twins team this year. Even if they don't win the division, Gardenhire has, again, proven himself to be in the upper echelon of managers in professional baseball.
I am disappointed in the Twins leadership to add to their staff by making aggressive trades/personnel moves to bolster their lineup or staff.
Bringing back Liriano was deft, but what about the horrid bullpen?
Boof has lost whatever it was he had and with injuries and "off" years by other middle inning relievers, the Twinks better hope that this young core of starters can carry them through to Nathan time...
The other thing is that Young and Gomez are still work in progress, thus it may be another year before benefits are to be earned there.
Even if the Twins win the Central, those "ghosts" are still there for them to get past. (NY and Boston)
If neither of them (NY or Boston) end up on the Twins schedule in the post season, playing the Rays or the Angels seems to be the insurmountable task.
Irrespective of how/where they finish, I am tipping my hat to Gardenhire for such an outstanding job of managing new talent and fielding a competitive team this year!
Cubs and Angels? Yeah, I think on paper that's what it is, but as plucky as the Twins have been this year, I can no longer count them out. (Boy was I wrong about them this year)
Go Twins!
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