Playoff races

[elsrbueno]

It might be a little early to start a thread like this, but I wanted to talk a bit about how the playoff races have DRASTICALLY changed over the last month or so.

 

Houston and Oakland have surged, putting themselves atop the wild card races and back in the hunt. These are two teams who were proclaimed dead not long ago.

 

Baltimore has flopped. 10 games out of first. What happened?!?

 

Cleveland's ahead of Minnesota.

 

Washington and Philly have both fallen behind the Atlanta Braves (again).

 

No teams above .500 in the NL West?!? Could a below .500 team make the playoffs?

 

Biggest surprise? Toronto One hot streak and they could be in second place in the AL East. Certainly within striking distance of a playoff spot.

 

Can Oakland ride their pitching (and limited offensive attacks) to glory? Yes and Yes. Atlanta did it for 13 (possibly 14) years. They both can make the playoffs, but like those Atlanta Braves teams, may struggle in the postseason.

 

Will Atlanta win again? Yes. No strong teams in that division, Atlanta has enough to win it.

 

Should be a very interesting and fun two months, and not just in New England, either.

[riverside sluggers]

AL East- Red Sox

Al Central- White Sox

AL West & Wild Card- Angels and Atletics will take either title

 

NL East- Braves

NL Central- Cardinals

NL West- haha i guess whatever team can finish with a record of at least .500

NL Wild Card- Astros

[YankeeDoodle]

I'm going to put the Yankees in there. Umm. Because I can? And the Padres, c'mon, when Jake Peavy has to drive in a run for you...the division is practically THERE up for grabs, just take it already!

 

Do NOT want to see Anaheim. Oakland's pitching staff scares me too. And yeah, the Red Sox still gives some Yankees and their fans night terrors I guess. I'm not quite sold on the White Sox.

 

Baseball's a game about streaks and finding your stride at the right time. Oakland had young pitching (injuries and offensive hiccups), so Beane wasn't worried; they'd do better in the second-half with some experience. Washington was last, dead last, in MLB in runs scored. At some point that has to add up.

 

Cardinals are IMO the best team for the postseason. They just need Walker, Rolen, and Sanders healthy, and they're set. Carpenter is healthy - NL Cy Young candidate that outdueled Willis, Pettitte, Oswalt. They have pitching!

[soxie thefangirl]

The Yankees could definitely take the Wild Card. I say the A's take the West. And obviously the ChiSox take central and Red Sox take East.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

The yankees might get in IMO. Slighty. I don't know though. If Oakland and Anaheim stay strong one of them will take the division and one will take the wild card. in a playoff series the white sox scare the hell out of me.

[soxie thefangirl]

The White Sox don't scare me as much as they did before we played them. They're a little overrated.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

After playing them they did seem a bit overrated, but something about them scared me. I think it's there bullpen.

[yankeessuck013]

AL East- Red Sox

AL Central- ChiSox

AL West- A's

Wild Card- Angels

 

NL East- Braves

NL Central- Cards

NL West- Padres

Wild Card- Astros

 

another sox and cards world series IMO.

[YankeeDoodle]

After playing them they did seem a bit overrated, but something about them scared me. I think it's there bullpen.

Are you being sarcastic? I'm assuming you're speaking of the White Sox. Reason I say this is because many have speculated that BP is their main weakness, inexperience. I don't know, it just seems at times that they're this big mirage...

 

soxie, you're so kind! Unless the Angels fade, fade fast. I was stunned when the Yanks managed to shake up their BP (thanks Toronto!), especially K-Rod. But realistically, I'm not counting on a signficant drop-off, so it has to be the Yankees being better, not the Angels getting worse.

 

That walk-off play yesterday in the Phillies-Cubs game, oh, quite painful in the Cubs mental lapse. TAG HOMEPLATE! Or you also had a shot at third. Dusty's reaction during the late-inning antics have been quite humorous. Give the guy a break, already.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Are you being sarcastic? I'm assuming you're speaking of the White Sox. Reason I say this is because many have speculated that BP is their main weakness, inexperience. I don't know, it just seems at times that they're this big mirage...

 

 

 

eh, the whole pitching staff. I should of said rotation. lol. But they got some good bullpen guys.

[soxie thefangirl]

But even their best starter didn't beat us. I really think they're overrated.