100 Games In

Here we are in late July, with the playoff chase starting to take shape, and some interesting things happening in several divisions. First, for the record, here is how I predicted things would shake out, back on February 12. I had the Red Sox, Tigers, Angels, Mets, Cubs, and Dodgers winning their respective divisions with the Indians and Phillies taking their league's Wild Card spots. As of today the Red Sox, Tigers, Angels, Mets, Brewers, and Dodgers are winning their respective divisions with the Indians and Padres the Wild Card front runners (the Cubs are 2 back of the Brewers in the Central and the Phillies are 2 back of the Pads for the Wild Card).

So in my opinion, here are the races to watch the last 62 games of the season...

AL, Boston and New York, Who Wins The Division?
Probably could have written this one back on Opening Day, but the reality is, reports of the Yankees' demise are premature. They're 10 over .500 now, their pitching is starting to click, they get Jason Giambi and Phil Hughes back soon (thus bringing an official end to "The Kei Igawa Era") they're 12-3 in the second half, and they've shaved 8 games off the Sox lead in less than two months. There are still about two months left and they train by 6.5. You do the math...this ain't over.

AL, Detroit and Cleveland, Who Gets The Wild Card?
I think both these teams are postseason-bound, it's just a question of who finishes stronger. It should be Detroit since their rock-steady bullpen (Zumaya, Rodney) is starting to get healthy and they've managed to stay in the mix (and atop the division) during that time. I suppose if the Yankees stay hot, that could mean one of these teams gets in and another doesn't, but that remains to be seen. One cause for concern in Motown...Magglio is hitting .289 with a .796 OPS in July. One cause for concern for the Tribe...this juggernaut offense is averaging less than 4.5 runs per game in the second half.

NL, Milwaukee, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Arizona, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Who Ends Up Where?
The Mets will win the East, but that's about all that's certain right now in the senior circuit. The Cubs have gained 5.5 games on the Brew Crew since June 2, and Lou's boys are now 2 back. In the West, any given night the Dodgers, Padres, and D-Backs can leap-fog one another and the Braves and Phillies could both play spoiler. Of the 7 teams listed above, 3 will make it, 4 won't. It will probably come down to pitching and injuries. The Brewers miss Ben Sheets badly, the Cubs are getting healthy, the Dodgers' staff is banged up too, San Diego has the best arms in the game, the D-Backs would love to get the Big Unit back for the last two months, the Braves have 3 dependable starters, but after that it gets hairy and the Phillies may have one of the worst pitching staffs in the game. I still like the Cubs to take the Central, but don't be surprised to see San Diego win the West, and the Wild Card is anybody's guess. It should be a fun last 62 games!