American League Contender or Pretender
The Contenders:
1. The Detroit Tigers: The Tigers have been on fire since Jim Leyland’s rant two weeks into the season. At 55-25, the American League leading Tigers look poised to make their first playoff appearance since 1987. They have been able to keep up their blistering pace depsite a drop off in their hitting performance. Several factors lead to the Tigers being able to keep up their pace: Pitching, Pitching, and Pitching. The tabbies’ starters average a 3.30 ERA and are a combined 44-17, among the best in the Majors for both categories. The bullpen has also been stellar. “The Rollercoaster”, Todd Jones has lived up to his nickname this year, but has usually gotten the job done, blowing just 3 saves out of 24 oppurtunies. Rookie phenoms Joel Zumaya and Justin Verlander have brought heat to the Tigers’ staff. Verlander is 10-3 with 3.13 ERA and frequently touches 100 throughout his starts. Often, Joel Zumaya makes Verlander look like Tim Wakefield. Zumaya’s fastballs average about 100 mph and have been known to hit 102, his 49 K’s in 40 innings and 2.25 ERA have made him an almost unhittable setup man. The rookie phenoms are balanced out by the ageless Kenny Rogers. At 10-3 with a 3.72 ERA the 41 year-old staff ace has been both a mentor to the rookies and a force on the mound. Although not as stellar as the pitching, the Tigers hitting as been timely and solid. Led by Magglio Ordonez (.314 avg., 15 Home Runs, 58 RBI), the Tigers offense has hit for both power and average. With a .275 team average and six players with over 10 home runs the Tigers offense has been balanced. Another young star in the amking for Detroit is leadoff man Curtis Granderson. Granderson is hitting .287 with 11 homers, 42 RBI, and a .375 OBP. Firey manager Jim Leyland has led this team to their great start and is the early favorite for the Manager of the Year Award. Look for the Tigers to roar into the playoffs and win the pennant ahead of the Chicago White Sox .
2. The Chicago White Sox: The reigning World Champions are getting it done with power and pitching. At 53-27, the White Sox are currently just 1.5 games back of the Tigers for the best record in baseball. Free agent acquisiton Jim Thome has supplied plenty of pop and already has an American League leading 26 dingers. His teammates Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye supply more power with 20 home runs each, tied for 6th in the A.L.. The White Sox starters have also been fantastic. The Sox starters have .721 winning percentange and underrated closer Bobby Jenks has converted 25 out of 26 saves. Although outspoken manager Ozzie Guillen may cause some distractions, his greater value as a leader will help the White Sox, rather then hurt them. Due to being in baseball’s tougest divison (take that A.L. East!), the White Sox will finish second to the Tigers, however, they will finish with a better record than the A.L. West and A.L. East division winners.
3. The Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox are currently 1st in the A.L. East due to strong hitting and a lights-out closer. As usual, Red Sox hitters Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz are near the the top of the league in several offensive categories. Mike Lowell has been a very pleasant surprise for the Red Sox and hitting .305. Mark Loretta, Kevin Youkilis, and Trot Nixon have all hit for a very high average at .320, .314, and .328 respectively. Cocoa Crisp, although missing some time on the D.L., has added speed and slick fielding to the Sox. However, the biggest surprise for the Red Sox has been their outstanding rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon has 24 saves in 26 chances and a .450 ERA. With a lights-out closer like Papelbon, the Red Sox should be able to finish most of their games and hold off the Yankees and Blue Jays in the East.
4. The Texas Rangers: Although the 41-40 Rangers are currently 1.5 games back in the West, they have a real shot at winning the division. In one of baseball’s most medicore divisions the current leader, the Oakland A’s, have a 42-38 record. The Rangers have a potent offense with .282 Team batting average. Plenty of power is supplied by Hank Blaylock and Mark Texeira. Although their pitching is mediocore, veteran Kevin Millwood is a legitimate ace with an 8-4 record and starters Vincente Padilla and John Koronka have been steady with 7-5 and 6-4 records respectively. Japanese newcomer, Akinori Otsuka has been a pleasant surprise for the Rangers. Taking over for an injured Fransico Cordero, Otsuka has racked up 16 saves in 18 chances and compiled a 2.21 ERA. Because of the weakness of the A.L’s West Division the Rangers should squeak through due to their strong offense and mediocore pitching.
The Pretenders:
1. The New York Yankees: Championship deprived Yankees fans will have to wait yet another year for that elusive 27th World Series Title. Although we can all feel for those poor Yankee fans having to wait six years for another title, The Boss will not be happy that his $198,662,180 team could not even make the playoffs. Well, George here’s why: Pitching and Injuries. The 45-33 Yankees suffered from some bad luck so far this year losing Hideki Matsui to a broken wrist for at least three months and Gary Sheffield from a left wrist injury for an extended period of time. Both these injuries took some steam out of the Yankees high-powered offense. Also, an Injury to Carl Pavano took a key starter out of the rotation. A recent injury to Robinson Cano will seriously affect the Yankees, both offensively and defensively. Despite the injuries, the Yankees could still easily be in first, however, poor pitching has crippled the Yankees chances of coming back. Randy Johnson, despite being 9-7, has a 5.25 ERA and less than 1 strike out per inning, very un-Randy Johnson like numbers. Shawn Chacon, Jared Wright, and Aaron Small have been very inconsistent and the only starter the Yankees have been able to rely on has been Mike Mussina. Lack of offensive power to their overcome their poor pitching, and the poor pitching itself will severely hinder the Yankees chances of winning the East. A second-place finish to the Red Sox and second-place in the wild card standings can be expected from the Yankees.
2. The Toronto Blue Jays: The new and improved Blue Jays have been a threat in the East to topple the Yankee-Red Sox hierarchy, however, despite a great year the Blue Jays will most likely fall up short. The Blue Jays possess a high-powered offense but their mediocore pitching will hold them back. The starters have a combined 4.88 ERA and only a .530 winning percentage. Staff ace Roy Halladay has been stellar, however, he cannot carry the whole team. The return of AJ Burnett will greatly help the rotation but, it may be too late. Also, 19 tough divisional games against both the Red Sox and the Yankees will severely hurt their chances to come out on top of the division. They should finish behind the Yankees and Red Sox and eventually finish third in the wild card.
3. The Minnesota Twins: The Twins have been on fire lately, winning 9 out of their last 10. However, this surge is too little, too late in baseball’s toughest division. Despite being 44-35, the Twins are currently 10 games back of the Tigers. This gap is too large to be surmounted in the second half by a team with good pitching, but poor htting. In fact, only one starter is hitting over .300, albeit the one, Joe Mauer, is hitting .392. The lack of offensive production will stop the Twins from gaining a big enough push that would be necessary for them to climb over both the Tigers and the White Sox.
4. The Oakland A’s: The Oakland A’s have ridden apretty good pitching and a weak schedule to first place in the American League West. Currently, the A’s have no hitters with an average above .300 and only 3 hitters with more than 10 home runs. Without in improvement in their hitting the A’s will be overtaken by the Rangers and finish second in the American League West and fourth in the Wild Card race.
