Two weeks have passed since my last post, and two weeks are left (well, 13 days) in the MLB season. In most ways this is cause for concern - how can it have passed so quickly?! - but in every other way this is the best time of the season. The previous 150 games can be thrown away now. Either you're in contention or you're not, and if you are in contention, then every game has to be treated like a play-off game. As the Red Sox and Braves found out last season, there are 162 games for a reason. Even if you're on top after 161 it means nothing if you've fallen out of it after the next day.
Some teams can almost guarantee their spots in October baseball. The Nats can be pretty confident that they will have a favourable advantage going into their NLDS series, and the Braves, Giants and Rangers can all feel confident that their season won't last just 162 games. After that the waters become a little murkier. In the AL, the East and Central continue to be gripping. The Orioles refuse to quit, more recently winning a marathon 18 inning game that lasted well into the early hours before following that up with another sapping 11 inning victory. Their extra-inning and one-run records continue to be impeccable. However, the Yankees are doing what the Yankees do best - they are playing the spoiler role. As the O's try and continue their fairytale story, the Yanks keep grinding out wins keeping themselves at the forefront of the AL East picture. The Rays meanwhile have fallen out of contention. The return of Evan Longoria unable to mask the clear hitting deficiencies as Cy Young type seasons from David Price and Fernando Rodney appear to imminently become fruitless. In terms of schedules, the Orioles enjoy a reasonably easy final 13 games, with 6 against the Red Sox and 4 against the Blue Jays. The Yankees have a tough 3 game set against the Athletics, but finish the season against the Twins, Jays and Red Sox. Sweeps are going to be the key to the title.
In the Central, the twists and turns continue to take place. After the White Sox swept the Twins and the Tigers were only able to take two from the tribe, the Sox followed that up with a crucial victory over the Tigers on Monday. However, an unbelievable couple of days of hitting from MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera has given the Tigers new life, with the bogey-team Royals holding up the resurgent Sox. The Tigers still stand two games out in the Central, and a wildcard spot looks to be out of the question. But if the astonishing hitting of Cabrera can continue, the Tigers still have a chance in this division. The Tigers will also have the benefit of enjoying a cosy final week of the season against the Royals(2) and Twins whilst the White Sox will have tough series against the Angels and Rays as well as two sets with the Indians. Calling a winner in this division will be impossible.
In the West, the Rangers continue to set the pace but the Athletics continue to churn out victories. They remain just 4 games back in the hunt for the division title, and 3.5 games ahead of fellow division rivals Los Angeles Angels in the wildcard hunt. Their young rotation and resurgent hitting has showed no signs of slowing, and should the Rangers slip up over the last 10 games, the Athletics will have no problems with filling in at the top of the division. They won't have an easy time of it however, facing the Yankees, Rangers(2) and Mariners in their last 4 series. The Rangers will also have a tough few series, facing the Mariners, A's(2) and Angels, so neither side will have an easy finish to the season. The Angels continue to slide out of the play-off picture, although they are still clinging on to a wildcard hope by a thread. They will face the White Sox, Mariners(2) and Rangers and need to win at least 10 out of 12 if they want to reach the playoffs.
The NL wildcard picture is no clearer than it was two weeks ago. The Pirates have faltered and fallen out of contention but their spot has been taken by the flying Brewers, who have finally sorted out their bullpen issues and are riding another MVP-calibre season from Ryan Braun. They are just 2.5 games out of the wildcard race, and unlike the Cardinals have momentum behind them. The Cards are stalling, and with the Dodgers and Brewers breathing down their necks must put together a strong final 2 weeks. The Phillies and D-Backs both still have a sniff of the wildcard, but it looks like they'll need a good slice of fortune if they want to work their way into October baseball. The Cards have a cushy pair of series' against the Cubs and Astros, but finish the season against the Nats and Reds. They'll want to have breathing room going into those games. The Brewers have it the other way around. They face a tough 6 games against the Nats and Reds, but if they can take 4 of 6 they'll be confident going into the final 6 against the Astros and Padres. The Dodgers will also face the Reds, but follow that up with the Padres and Rockies before finishing up against the Giants. The D-Backs are perhaps best placed for a late run, with 6 games against the Rockies and 3 games against the Cubs sandwiching a 3 game series against the Giants.
It's set to be a fantastic finish to the season, and whichever teams do make the post-season will have earned their spot - you don't come out on top after 162 games unless you're a good side. Once you hit the play-offs it's anyone's game.
On an aside, I thought I'd string together my award winners as I currently think would be fair...
AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera
AL Cy Young: Fernando Rodney
AL Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout
AL Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin
NL MVP: Buster Posey
NL Cy Young: R.A. Dickey
NL Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper
NL Manager of the Year: Davey Johnson
But there is still plenty of time for that to change. Feel free to disagree - I'd like to hear your thoughts!
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