It seems forever since I have updated my thoughts on sports. The Rangers are a game and a half back now behind Oakland in the west. Detroit is the best team in baseball with Kenny Rogers leading the way for them (go figure). San Diego leads the NL West with Chris Young leading the way (7-3 record, 2.97 ERA). Again, go figure. So, the rest of the way predictions… well, before I can do that, I guess I have to address who I am going to address prior.
Where they are now:
Detroit: 55-25
1st in the AL Central; Majors
White Sox: 52-27
2nd in the AL Central; 2nd Majors
Oakland: 42-37
1st in the AL West
Rangers: 41-39
2nd in the AL West; 1.5 back behind Oakland
Atlanta: 34-46
4th in the NL East; 13.5 back behind NY Mets
Houston: 38-42
4th in NL Central; 6 back behind Cards and Reds (Tied)
Arizona: 38-42
Last (5th) in NL West; 4.5 back behind San Diego
These are the teams I am going to focus on. I’ll just address Houston right now. They are done. There will be no playoffs for the Astros this year. Yes, they have Roger Clemens and yes, they have all sorts of good players… blah, blah, blah… but, they aren’t going to make it. They would have to do a couple of trades to make it happen, but not with what they have right now. Should Houston make zero changes, they may pull to an over 500 mark by the end of the season. Arizona has a better chance than Houston, division wise. They are fewer games back, despite being in last place. They have the same record as Houston. Arizona really is a great trade away from first place in their division. Really, it may be two trades to make some noise in the playoffs, but in this division, to win it, just one quality trade. That trade would be for either a solid run producer (HR-RBI guy) or another solid starter to work around Brandon Webb. My goodness, if want, you can trade him to the Rangers, just a thought. I mean, we’ll trade you, say Hairston Jr.? Not a fair trade, but I like it. Atlanta… well, golly gee, it seems we just want to write them off. You never know with the Braves. The hitting for them seems to be fine, but the pitching, the backbone of the franchise for the longest time over the recent years, is what is struggling. Do they have a starter (over 10 starts) with a winning record? Actually, they don’t. They do have a pitcher with a 7-1 mark, but he is a relief pitcher and if you’re a Braves fan, that just sends shivers down your spine (or it should). In a prefect world, relief pitchers shouldn’t have records, except for saves. But if they do, I guess it is good to let them have wins. But think about this: 21% of the Braves wins are held by that one relief pitcher and that means a lot of bullpen work and that means a lot of the starters are not doing their jobs. And that is where the shivers come in. So do the Braves rebound? Miracles do happen and the Braves seem to hold the magic wand. I like their chances better for a wildcard than the division (10 games back), but even that is a stretch. I will just say they will push and fizzle and then make some trades in an effort to “rebuild” for next or future seasons. Detroit, they almost seem like a lock for the playoffs, but teams who start like this, they do fizzle as the year goes on. They will make the playoffs, most certainly, either as the division winner, or the wildcard in the AL, but they won’t go to the World Series. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble out there, but that’s what generally how these things go. If anything, it would be more than likely the ChiSox, they went last year, they have the experience, if they can just pipe down the manager (who gets in trouble for saying racial comments because it offends, but not cussing, because obviously that doesn’t offend people. I find that interesting. Where are the scruples these days?), the White Sox have a brilliant chance of repeating as champions. Oakland has staying power for first place in the west. Seattle was a shock to spark in second, but that was short lived and I don’t see them really challenging too much in and out the rest of the way. However, this is baseball. Stranger things in stranger days. Can the Rangers challenge? Yes. I have been pondering this for a while and I can answer with honesty that they can make a strong challenge on Oakland for the division. Will the Rangers go to the World Series this season should they win the division this year? Not unless there is some big changes in pitching and a big change in Teixeira’s power numbers. Eaton should help when he comes off the DL but how much, we really don’t know. Diamond, Volquez, and Danks (DVD) and still making a good deal of noise in the minors, Diamond is the only one left in AA, the other two are in AAA. Volquez should be back in a Rangers uniform before the season is out, especially if the Rangers fall out of contention. If the Rangers are in contention, but are still struggling with a number five spot, Volquez may still find himself in a Rangers shirt. Rupe is another minor leaguer performing well. The Rangers motto that we as fans continue to hear year after year “next year”, I believe that if the Rangers don’t find themselves in the running at mid-September, that “next year” is a valid case. And we really don’t have to shop outside of what we already have. Millie is signed. We have the DVD guys. Eaton, Padilla, Loe (you have keep Loe, period, for the rest of his carrier. I guess I am stuck in Loe gear.), and the whole infield, Mench, Matthews, De Rosa, Kinsler… I mean there may be a minor adjustment, maybe between Eaton and Padilla, and another starting pitcher… and the bullpen.
Where they are now:
Detroit: 55-25
1st in the AL Central; Majors
White Sox: 52-27
2nd in the AL Central; 2nd Majors
Oakland: 42-37
1st in the AL West
Rangers: 41-39
2nd in the AL West; 1.5 back behind Oakland
Atlanta: 34-46
4th in the NL East; 13.5 back behind NY Mets
Houston: 38-42
4th in NL Central; 6 back behind Cards and Reds (Tied)
Arizona: 38-42
Last (5th) in NL West; 4.5 back behind San Diego
These are the teams I am going to focus on. I’ll just address Houston right now. They are done. There will be no playoffs for the Astros this year. Yes, they have Roger Clemens and yes, they have all sorts of good players… blah, blah, blah… but, they aren’t going to make it. They would have to do a couple of trades to make it happen, but not with what they have right now. Should Houston make zero changes, they may pull to an over 500 mark by the end of the season. Arizona has a better chance than Houston, division wise. They are fewer games back, despite being in last place. They have the same record as Houston. Arizona really is a great trade away from first place in their division. Really, it may be two trades to make some noise in the playoffs, but in this division, to win it, just one quality trade. That trade would be for either a solid run producer (HR-RBI guy) or another solid starter to work around Brandon Webb. My goodness, if want, you can trade him to the Rangers, just a thought. I mean, we’ll trade you, say Hairston Jr.? Not a fair trade, but I like it. Atlanta… well, golly gee, it seems we just want to write them off. You never know with the Braves. The hitting for them seems to be fine, but the pitching, the backbone of the franchise for the longest time over the recent years, is what is struggling. Do they have a starter (over 10 starts) with a winning record? Actually, they don’t. They do have a pitcher with a 7-1 mark, but he is a relief pitcher and if you’re a Braves fan, that just sends shivers down your spine (or it should). In a prefect world, relief pitchers shouldn’t have records, except for saves. But if they do, I guess it is good to let them have wins. But think about this: 21% of the Braves wins are held by that one relief pitcher and that means a lot of bullpen work and that means a lot of the starters are not doing their jobs. And that is where the shivers come in. So do the Braves rebound? Miracles do happen and the Braves seem to hold the magic wand. I like their chances better for a wildcard than the division (10 games back), but even that is a stretch. I will just say they will push and fizzle and then make some trades in an effort to “rebuild” for next or future seasons. Detroit, they almost seem like a lock for the playoffs, but teams who start like this, they do fizzle as the year goes on. They will make the playoffs, most certainly, either as the division winner, or the wildcard in the AL, but they won’t go to the World Series. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble out there, but that’s what generally how these things go. If anything, it would be more than likely the ChiSox, they went last year, they have the experience, if they can just pipe down the manager (who gets in trouble for saying racial comments because it offends, but not cussing, because obviously that doesn’t offend people. I find that interesting. Where are the scruples these days?), the White Sox have a brilliant chance of repeating as champions. Oakland has staying power for first place in the west. Seattle was a shock to spark in second, but that was short lived and I don’t see them really challenging too much in and out the rest of the way. However, this is baseball. Stranger things in stranger days. Can the Rangers challenge? Yes. I have been pondering this for a while and I can answer with honesty that they can make a strong challenge on Oakland for the division. Will the Rangers go to the World Series this season should they win the division this year? Not unless there is some big changes in pitching and a big change in Teixeira’s power numbers. Eaton should help when he comes off the DL but how much, we really don’t know. Diamond, Volquez, and Danks (DVD) and still making a good deal of noise in the minors, Diamond is the only one left in AA, the other two are in AAA. Volquez should be back in a Rangers uniform before the season is out, especially if the Rangers fall out of contention. If the Rangers are in contention, but are still struggling with a number five spot, Volquez may still find himself in a Rangers shirt. Rupe is another minor leaguer performing well. The Rangers motto that we as fans continue to hear year after year “next year”, I believe that if the Rangers don’t find themselves in the running at mid-September, that “next year” is a valid case. And we really don’t have to shop outside of what we already have. Millie is signed. We have the DVD guys. Eaton, Padilla, Loe (you have keep Loe, period, for the rest of his carrier. I guess I am stuck in Loe gear.), and the whole infield, Mench, Matthews, De Rosa, Kinsler… I mean there may be a minor adjustment, maybe between Eaton and Padilla, and another starting pitcher… and the bullpen.
1 Random Thoughts:
I don't think the Diamondbacks will be making any significant trades. We still owe a gazillion dollars to Russ Ortiz and it looks like we're "building for the future" by trying not to lose anyone from our farm system.
Hey, Young made me proud in the All-Star game.
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