Paul Fannin
Well-Known Member
The pall (not Paul 
) of the steroid issue has clouded what so far has been a wonderful Baseball season. A few thoughts at the halfway point....
The story in Baseball so far is the Detroit Tigers. Many have asked me, "Pauly, are they for real?" Well, as of this writing, they are really 56-26 for the season and are on a course to win 111 games. That isn't likely with the dog-days coming, but this is a good team, and they are dangerous. Right now, they are holding off the world champion Chicago White Sox (the best team in Baseball, in my opinion). The juggernaut that has become the Tigers and what is the White Sox has the Minnesota Twins presently 10 games over .500 and 7 1/2 games out of the wild card The rise and success of the Tigers has created another interesting scenario.
If the current trend continues, only one team that will emerge from the AL East, will be either the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees, a sentiment deemed improbable at the beginning of the season. This scenario will create, what I believe will be a very hot September race between these two titans. Throw the Toronto Blue Jays in the mix, and you have the makings of a real barnburner. It is quite possible that a team with 100 victories could finish out of the postseason.
The Oakland Athletics frankly are a flawed team, sorely lacking in offensive punch. They seem to be the class of the AL West, but their inability to create distance between them and their division opponents makes them vulnerable. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, at present, are in last place, but only 6 1/2 games behind Oakland. I still say the Angels will be heard from before the season runs it's course.
The New York Mets are the best team in the National League, period. The NL East division race is over. It is now only a formality. Philadelphia and Atlanta are dead, sing the durges, nail the coffin, throw the dirt.
The St Louis Cardinals have been wracked with injuries and all is not well. The other story in Baseball has been the Cincinnati Reds. They could very well overtake the Redbirds and win that division. I believe one will be the division winner and the other the wild card.
The best team that I have observed in the NL West has been the San Diego Padres. They have maybe the best bullpen in Baseball outside the Yankees and the White Sox, but their lack of offense makes them an iffy proposition. The Colorado Rockies have finally produced some steady pitching in the Mile High air. They could be dangerous, but that division could go to any team in it, and like last year it could go to a team with 82 to 86 wins. But the Padres could be dangerous in the playoffs with their overall pitching.
What a rest of the season ahead...
) of the steroid issue has clouded what so far has been a wonderful Baseball season. A few thoughts at the halfway point....The story in Baseball so far is the Detroit Tigers. Many have asked me, "Pauly, are they for real?" Well, as of this writing, they are really 56-26 for the season and are on a course to win 111 games. That isn't likely with the dog-days coming, but this is a good team, and they are dangerous. Right now, they are holding off the world champion Chicago White Sox (the best team in Baseball, in my opinion). The juggernaut that has become the Tigers and what is the White Sox has the Minnesota Twins presently 10 games over .500 and 7 1/2 games out of the wild card The rise and success of the Tigers has created another interesting scenario.
If the current trend continues, only one team that will emerge from the AL East, will be either the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees, a sentiment deemed improbable at the beginning of the season. This scenario will create, what I believe will be a very hot September race between these two titans. Throw the Toronto Blue Jays in the mix, and you have the makings of a real barnburner. It is quite possible that a team with 100 victories could finish out of the postseason.
The Oakland Athletics frankly are a flawed team, sorely lacking in offensive punch. They seem to be the class of the AL West, but their inability to create distance between them and their division opponents makes them vulnerable. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, at present, are in last place, but only 6 1/2 games behind Oakland. I still say the Angels will be heard from before the season runs it's course.
The New York Mets are the best team in the National League, period. The NL East division race is over. It is now only a formality. Philadelphia and Atlanta are dead, sing the durges, nail the coffin, throw the dirt.
The St Louis Cardinals have been wracked with injuries and all is not well. The other story in Baseball has been the Cincinnati Reds. They could very well overtake the Redbirds and win that division. I believe one will be the division winner and the other the wild card.
The best team that I have observed in the NL West has been the San Diego Padres. They have maybe the best bullpen in Baseball outside the Yankees and the White Sox, but their lack of offense makes them an iffy proposition. The Colorado Rockies have finally produced some steady pitching in the Mile High air. They could be dangerous, but that division could go to any team in it, and like last year it could go to a team with 82 to 86 wins. But the Padres could be dangerous in the playoffs with their overall pitching.
What a rest of the season ahead...
