Can We Pay Attention to Baseball for a Second?
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by Editoratlegendofcecilioguante
This was originally posted on my blog, The Legend of Cecilio Guante, here.
While it's quite entertaining to talk about athletes who've just received enormous contracts putting guns to stripper's heads to cop a feel (allegedly), coach's sons getting bombed at the local Dick's Sporting Goods (Andy, time for a longer leave of absence, perhaps? From the team, not your family...) and MVP quarterbacks fathering children out-of-wedlock, I've made an executive decision to return to on the field action for a few moments. Specifically, it's time for people to start getting a bit more excited about the MLB playoffs. Now, not sure if we need to get out-of-breath, I...can't...believe...they...scored...30 runs... Tim Kurkjian-excited, but I for one am enthusiastically looking forward to the postseason.
So, why am I excited? Simple. Combine compelling MLB postseason action with the start of the NFL season and the pleasant temperatures of early fall and you've got sports fan bliss. And we're looking at the potential for serious races in every divison coming down the stretch. There's a lot to look forward as we head towards September.
A.L. East:
I'm not buying that the Yankees are done. Not for a second. As a bona fide Yankee-hater, I'm enjoying pulling for the M's and hoping the wild card thing sorts itself out, but I've seen this story play out too many times. I'd be lying if I claimed the frightening premonition of another A.L. East crown for the Spankees hasn't come into my head on at least one occasion. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but I also don't think it's that much of a stretch. The Sox haven't proved to me they're going to pull away and the fact is Wang, Clemens, Pettite, Hughes is a solid rotation (intentional Mussina omission). I can already see Miguel Cairo going on a tear...maybe a late season aquistion who goes off and blasts 7 home runs in 10 games type-of-thing...Clemens proving his veteran mettle down the stretch...I just threw up in my mouth...just a little bit. You can already see the nerves in Beantown fraying via the forums and chat rooms talking about the second half and the Yanks schedule versus the Sox, excuses galore. This one is going to test my patience.
A.L. Central
With all due respect to Cleve Fan (one of The Legend's most devoted readers), the Tribe and Tigers are going to be battling to the final day of the season. Despite their recent struggles, Detroit isn't going to go 3-7 in their next 10 day stretch. Zumaya's back throwing smoke. Their lineup is solid. Aside from the fact that Todd Jones still closes for them, the Tigers are still a very good team. Speaking of which, how exactly is this guy still their closer? He's got a 4.56 ERA and has given up 55 hits in 51 and 1/3 innings. I feel for Tigers fans. Billy Wagner induces a mild case of nausea for me every time he takes the bump. Jones has to be a full-blown heart attack with every appearance. Regardless, this race should be fun to watch. These teams have another 3-game set in late August that could have a lot riding on it. And don't completely sleep on the Twinkies. Don't think they're going to pull ahead of the pack, but that team is scrappy enough to add a little spice to things come September.
A.L. West
Talk about stories that aren't getting enough attention. The Seattle Mariners? Picked by many " experts " to finish dead-last in the A.L. West are not going away. Granted I don't get to watch a lot of A.L. West action on the east coast, but who the heck are these guys? Sure, I can name most of the starters, but outside of Ichiro who scares you in this lineup? Apparently, the numbers show that Guillen, Beltre and Ibanez should. Also, Putz is lights-out. On a side note, Richie Sexon should get some Rob Deer All-Star honorable mention consideration. This race isn't fading away either. And kudos to John McLaren for keeping the dream alive up in the Pacific Northwest.
More to come later on the National League. One other random thought as we envision the playoffs come October...is there any way to get Vin Scully up in the booth? The only wet-towel on the whole playoff thing is the realization of the trumvirate of FOX, Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Not to mention that incredibly annoying little talking ball " Scooter." Scooter only serves to remind me of those absolutely pointless transformer-things that grace us with their presence during every FOX NFL telecast. Is their some kind of network pre-requisite that lame animated characters must accompany otherwise compelling sports coverage?
Until later...
