mhendo
Aussie in San Francisco
Only about a dozen games to go now, and things are starting to really fall into place.
In the American League, the Yankees have virtually clinched the East, needing to win only 1 more game (or Boston to lose 1) for their ninth division title in a row. They have looked very strong over the last month or so, and the addition of Bobby Abreu added even more punch to an already potent offence. For a while there it looked like the Red Sox might make a race of it, but since the Yankees swept Boston in a 5 game series back in August, it has really been a one horse race.
In the West, Oakland look like they've got it sewn up. There is still a mathematical chance for the Angels to catch them, but with a 6 game lead i think the A's are almost a certainty. They've really had a good second half of the season (as usual), and their offence has started to pick up. Frank Thomas (aka The Big Hurt) and Nick Swisher have provided plenty of power, and without Thomas i think Oakland would not be where they are now.
The Central is really interesting, with three teams still in the running. The Tigers have had a bad month, going 11-16 since August 20, and their lead in the division is now down to half a game, with the surging Minnesota Twins looking to take over first place. The Chicago White Sox are 5 games out of first, and i wouldn't count them out yet. They beat Detroit last night, and they have another two games against the Tigers, and their last three games of the season against the Twins. This division could go down to the wire.
The battle in the Central will also determine the outcome of the Wild Card. Both Boston and the Angels are theoretically still in the hunt, but realistically neither have a chance. The odds are that either Detroit or Minnesota will win the Central, and the other will take the Wild card but, as i said, don't rule out the White Sox just yet. I'm hoping that Chicago misses out on the playoffs, but they have some great players and could still make a late charge to grab a spot.
Tigers fans must be very nervous right now. After a great first half of the season, Detroit has stumbled badly, and even if they make the playoffs they'll be unceremoniously bundled out in the first round if they don't pick up their game. Much as i hate to say it, the dreaded Yankees look like the strognest AL team right now.
In the National League, two division races are effectively over, while one is still well and truly up for grabs.
In the East, the Mets clinched the division a couple of days ago, becoming the first team of 2006 to officially make the playoffs. It's their first pennant since 1988, and they've been far ahead of their rivals for months. It's also really good to see the Braves miss the postseason.
While the Central is mathematically still alive for Cincinatti and Houston, neither team is going to catch the Cardinals, who have a 7 game lead with only a dozen left to play. The Reds looked for a while like they might mount a serious challenge, and were only 2.5 games behind St. Louis a month ago, but they've gone 11-17 since then and fallen well back.
It's the West that has the most exciting playoff race in the NL, with the Dodgers and Padres trading first place back and forth over the past few days. The Dodgers took a half game lead on Monday night after an incredible come-from-behind win over San Diego, but the Padres reclaimed first place on Tuesday after they beat Arizona, and LA lost to Pittsburgh. San Francisco could possibly put some pressure on the leaders, but i think the real fight is going to be between the two teams from Southern California.
The NL Wild Card is very interesting. Not only are the Padres and Dodgers fighting for their division, they are both also fighting to stay ahead of Philadelphia in the Wild Card race. Currently the Phillies are only a game behind LA, and they have been playing some good baseball over the past few weeks. Other teams, like the Giants, Cincinatti, Florida, and even Atlanta are still theoretically in the Wild Card race, but right now it looks like the real contest will be between Philadelphia and whichever team places second in the West. The Marlins looked for a while like they might make a charge, and they've had a very good year for such a young, low-paid team (total team salary: $14 million, or less than what Derek Jeter makes for the Yankees), but the past few weeks have seen them slip back.
The Dodgers, Padres, and Phillies all have relatively easy schedules over the last couple of weeks, with lots of games against low-placed teams. The Padres have it slightly tougher than the other two, having to face the Cardinals for a three game set. The NL is really too close to predict right now, although i think the Phillies will sneak into the Wild Card spot.
Once the playoffs begin, i think that the most likely scenario for the World Series right now seems to be a repeat of the 2000 Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets. The Mets have been far and away the strongest team in the NL all year, and the Yankees have really started to look strong when it matters, at the end of the season.
I hope this doesn't happen, because two New York teams is just boring. Personally, i'd like to see the Mets against Oakland or Minnesota.
In the American League, the Yankees have virtually clinched the East, needing to win only 1 more game (or Boston to lose 1) for their ninth division title in a row. They have looked very strong over the last month or so, and the addition of Bobby Abreu added even more punch to an already potent offence. For a while there it looked like the Red Sox might make a race of it, but since the Yankees swept Boston in a 5 game series back in August, it has really been a one horse race.
In the West, Oakland look like they've got it sewn up. There is still a mathematical chance for the Angels to catch them, but with a 6 game lead i think the A's are almost a certainty. They've really had a good second half of the season (as usual), and their offence has started to pick up. Frank Thomas (aka The Big Hurt) and Nick Swisher have provided plenty of power, and without Thomas i think Oakland would not be where they are now.
The Central is really interesting, with three teams still in the running. The Tigers have had a bad month, going 11-16 since August 20, and their lead in the division is now down to half a game, with the surging Minnesota Twins looking to take over first place. The Chicago White Sox are 5 games out of first, and i wouldn't count them out yet. They beat Detroit last night, and they have another two games against the Tigers, and their last three games of the season against the Twins. This division could go down to the wire.
The battle in the Central will also determine the outcome of the Wild Card. Both Boston and the Angels are theoretically still in the hunt, but realistically neither have a chance. The odds are that either Detroit or Minnesota will win the Central, and the other will take the Wild card but, as i said, don't rule out the White Sox just yet. I'm hoping that Chicago misses out on the playoffs, but they have some great players and could still make a late charge to grab a spot.
Tigers fans must be very nervous right now. After a great first half of the season, Detroit has stumbled badly, and even if they make the playoffs they'll be unceremoniously bundled out in the first round if they don't pick up their game. Much as i hate to say it, the dreaded Yankees look like the strognest AL team right now.
In the National League, two division races are effectively over, while one is still well and truly up for grabs.
In the East, the Mets clinched the division a couple of days ago, becoming the first team of 2006 to officially make the playoffs. It's their first pennant since 1988, and they've been far ahead of their rivals for months. It's also really good to see the Braves miss the postseason.
While the Central is mathematically still alive for Cincinatti and Houston, neither team is going to catch the Cardinals, who have a 7 game lead with only a dozen left to play. The Reds looked for a while like they might mount a serious challenge, and were only 2.5 games behind St. Louis a month ago, but they've gone 11-17 since then and fallen well back.
It's the West that has the most exciting playoff race in the NL, with the Dodgers and Padres trading first place back and forth over the past few days. The Dodgers took a half game lead on Monday night after an incredible come-from-behind win over San Diego, but the Padres reclaimed first place on Tuesday after they beat Arizona, and LA lost to Pittsburgh. San Francisco could possibly put some pressure on the leaders, but i think the real fight is going to be between the two teams from Southern California.
The NL Wild Card is very interesting. Not only are the Padres and Dodgers fighting for their division, they are both also fighting to stay ahead of Philadelphia in the Wild Card race. Currently the Phillies are only a game behind LA, and they have been playing some good baseball over the past few weeks. Other teams, like the Giants, Cincinatti, Florida, and even Atlanta are still theoretically in the Wild Card race, but right now it looks like the real contest will be between Philadelphia and whichever team places second in the West. The Marlins looked for a while like they might make a charge, and they've had a very good year for such a young, low-paid team (total team salary: $14 million, or less than what Derek Jeter makes for the Yankees), but the past few weeks have seen them slip back.
The Dodgers, Padres, and Phillies all have relatively easy schedules over the last couple of weeks, with lots of games against low-placed teams. The Padres have it slightly tougher than the other two, having to face the Cardinals for a three game set. The NL is really too close to predict right now, although i think the Phillies will sneak into the Wild Card spot.
Once the playoffs begin, i think that the most likely scenario for the World Series right now seems to be a repeat of the 2000 Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets. The Mets have been far and away the strongest team in the NL all year, and the Yankees have really started to look strong when it matters, at the end of the season.
I hope this doesn't happen, because two New York teams is just boring. Personally, i'd like to see the Mets against Oakland or Minnesota.
). I have plenty of good friends who are Yankees fans, and i sometimes feel bad ragging on the Bronx Bombers, because i know that it's not the fans' fault that the team is basically an All-Star team put together with lots of money and not much thought. 
