Yes, I know: it's wildly premature. But what's the fun of being a baseball fan if you can't do irrational things once in awhile. As such, I've devised a new weekly feature, which I hope to update every Monday morning from here on in.
Division Leaders:
1. Seattle Mariners ---- 49 31-18 0.0
2. Boston Red Sox ----- 49 30-19 1.0
3. Minnesota Twins ---- 49 29-20 2.0
Wildcard:
Oakland Athletics ------ 49 29-20 0.0
New York Yankees ----- 50 29-21 0.5
Kansas City Royals ----- 48 26-22 2.5
Toronto Blue Jays ---- 51 27-24 3.0
Anaheim Angels -------- 48 24-24 4.5
Chicago White Sox ----- 49 23-26 6.0
Texas Rangers --------- 49 23-26 6.0
Baltimore Orioles ------- 49 23-26 6.0
Projected matchups: Minnesota vs Seattle; Oakland vs Boston
Who would have thought the Yankees would be out of a playoff spot after their incredible start? I don't expect that to last - a Pedro-less Red Sox club could provide the necessary tonic for the Bombers to right the ship. Order has been restored in the Central; the only mystery is when the Pale Hose offence will wake up. I expect the Athletics to overtake the Mariners for good sometime in August. The Mariners, Red Sox and perhaps the Angels, White Sox and Blue Jays should be in the hunt for the wildcard.
Special Bonus Feature - Futility Derby:
Detroit Tigers ---------- 48 12-36 ___
San Diego Padres ------ 50 14-36 1.0
Milwaukee Brewers ----- 50 18-32 5.0
Cleveland Indians ------ 49 18-31 5.5
Tampa Bay Devil Rays -- 49 19-30 6.5
The former stathead darlings - the Padres - have moved from disappointing in 2002 to awful this year. It's difficult to develop a good young core of starting pitchers with a horrible defence behind them. Cleveland isn't this bad, I expect them to push the Royals for third place in the division when all is said and done. Can Lou's motivational techniques keep the near punchless D-Rays out of the bottom five? Stay tuned.
Division Leaders:
1. Seattle Mariners ---- 49 31-18 0.0
2. Boston Red Sox ----- 49 30-19 1.0
3. Minnesota Twins ---- 49 29-20 2.0
Wildcard:
Oakland Athletics ------ 49 29-20 0.0
New York Yankees ----- 50 29-21 0.5
Kansas City Royals ----- 48 26-22 2.5
Toronto Blue Jays ---- 51 27-24 3.0
Anaheim Angels -------- 48 24-24 4.5
Chicago White Sox ----- 49 23-26 6.0
Texas Rangers --------- 49 23-26 6.0
Baltimore Orioles ------- 49 23-26 6.0
Projected matchups: Minnesota vs Seattle; Oakland vs Boston
Who would have thought the Yankees would be out of a playoff spot after their incredible start? I don't expect that to last - a Pedro-less Red Sox club could provide the necessary tonic for the Bombers to right the ship. Order has been restored in the Central; the only mystery is when the Pale Hose offence will wake up. I expect the Athletics to overtake the Mariners for good sometime in August. The Mariners, Red Sox and perhaps the Angels, White Sox and Blue Jays should be in the hunt for the wildcard.
Special Bonus Feature - Futility Derby:
Detroit Tigers ---------- 48 12-36 ___
San Diego Padres ------ 50 14-36 1.0
Milwaukee Brewers ----- 50 18-32 5.0
Cleveland Indians ------ 49 18-31 5.5
Tampa Bay Devil Rays -- 49 19-30 6.5
The former stathead darlings - the Padres - have moved from disappointing in 2002 to awful this year. It's difficult to develop a good young core of starting pitchers with a horrible defence behind them. Cleveland isn't this bad, I expect them to push the Royals for third place in the division when all is said and done. Can Lou's motivational techniques keep the near punchless D-Rays out of the bottom five? Stay tuned.
