Sunday 22 June marks the end of the thirteenth of the the twenty-six weeks of the Major League Baseball season. Every club has played between 74 and 78 games out of the regular season 162 game schedule. The All-Star game break is still three weeks away, but a check on how the season is going will be attempted here by yours truly.=
NL WEST
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The division is markedly weaker than expected, and it seems certain there will be no wild card team this year from the NL West as has been the case in the last few years. Arizona got off to a great start winning 28 of their first 44, but the Diamondbacks have fallen back to earth in the last five to six weeks, losing 21 of 32. The D-Backs stall has kept the other four teams in the division race despite all four clubs being under .500 and generally unimpressive for most of the season. LA did okay early, but has languished the last two months; San Francisco has over achieved but has yet to prove itself; and San Diego and the defending National League Champion Colorado Rockies have been major disappointments with both their pitching and offenses underperforming. This division should go down to the wire, and everyone but the Giants has a shot to still win it. I will go with Arizona by the slimmest of margins again.
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NL CENTRAL
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Chicago has established itself as the team to beat both in the division and in the National League. The Cubs seemingly have all the pieces in place to make some noise in the postseason and its likely they will be there as the Central champs. St Louis has played remarkably well and considerably better than expected as the Redbird pitching has been largely sparkling to go along with a steady and good offense. The Cardinals are a prohibitive favorite to be the NL wild card team. Milwaukee got out of the gate poorly but has picked it up in recent weeks and could very well emerge even further to give both the Cubs and Cards a run for the postseason with their offense and improving pitching. The other three clubs are done: Pittsburgh, who is improved and may stay near .500 through the remainder of the season; Houston, who had a good run early but has faded badly in recent weeks; and Cincinnati, who has failed to meet early expectations and looks to be lacking in most every aspect of the game. Chicago will be tough to beat, but it is not a sure thing as both the Cardinals and Brewers have more than enough to overtake the Cubs down the stretch.
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NL EAST
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Another woeful division for the most part, much like the NL West. The East is marginally better at best. Four clubs should stay in the race for the division flag for the most part down the stretch. Philadelphia has set the pace in recent weeks after overcoming a much better than expected start and pace setting by Florida. The Marlins are much better than forecast and couldd be a big surprise before all is decided. That being said, the Phillies still are the favorite with their offense and decent enough pitching. New York and Atlanta will stay close and could still win, but both seem to lack enough pitching to be able to take it all the way. Washington is dead and out of it, but at least fans will get to continue to enjoy the first season at the new Nationals Park.
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AL WEST
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Anaheim has played steadily and consistently over the season thus far, and barring injuries, should take the AL West flag and very well could have the best record in the American League. Oakland and Texas will stay within striking distance perhaps even into September, but the Athletics lack the offense and the Rangers lack the pitching to keep up with and overcome the Angels. Seattle is a giant disappointment and a disaster. Everything that could go wrong for the Mariners has gone wrong and the organization has already started to clean house and the movement of overpaid underperforming players is next. Seattle very well could lose 100 games, a startling reversal to the preseason aspirations of a postseason appearance for the Mariners.
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AL CENTRAL
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This is the weakest of the three American League divisions. Chicago has been at or near the top all season as the Chisox pitching has exceeded expectations. It is still anyones guess on who will take the division's pennant. Minnesota is better than expected, particularly with their pitching, but both Cleveland and Detroit have seriously underachieved. Both clubs have been below .5oo for all or most of the season as the Tigers' pitching has been atrocious and the Indians's offense has been often anemic. Both could rapidly rebound and surge into the division lead in a short period of time. Kansas City is improved, particularly their pitching, but the Royals are still a solid step behind the other four clubs in the division. In a shocker, look for the Twins to edge out the other three clubs and represent the division in the postseason.
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AL EAST
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This is baseball's best division clearly. The defending World Champion Boston Red Sox have been at or near the top of the division all season and should continue to with their strong mix of pitching, offense, and defense. Their experience should be enough to overcome the young upstart Tampa Bay Rays, who have surprised many with their successful great play all season. Tampa Bay has the personnel and strength to make the post season; its just a question of if all their youth can keep it going until the end. New York has had problems in all aspects of the game for much of the season, largely due to injury, lack of depth, and inadequate pitching, but the Yanks are playing better in recent weeks and will contend as usual for a postseason berth. Another notably surprising club is Baltimore as the young Orioles have played much better than anticipated and are staying in the running for the postseason. Counted on before the season as a sure loser of over 100 games, Baltimore has seen vast improvements in their pitching and a better than expected offensed in staying just below or above .500 all season. Toronto has to be a disappointment as the Jays were expected to contend for the division. Injuries and underperformances in both pitching and offense have been the Blue Jays' undoing, and there is little to suggest that the club will be able to reverse their direction that they have taken strongly enough to re-emerge as a contender for a postseason berth. Boston will win the AL East, and Tampa Bay will stun the Yankees to take the AL Wild Card.
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I like the Angels and Phillies in the World Series at this point, with the Twins and Brewers as my darkhorses.
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