By Dave Holcomb
The baseball season has reached its half waypoint. Actually, the season made it to that landmark weeks ago, for whatever reason, Major League Baseball has its All-Star game slightly more than halfway. Anyway, with about 95 games in the books, the playoff picture is a bit clearer. It’s still too early to officially predict what teams will be playing in October, but what the heck, predictions are fun, and you have to make fun of me for something.
Here’s what the American League will (maybe) look like:
East
Boston Red Sox: The current holders of baseball best record, the Red Sox only need to win 11 more games to match last year’s total. It’s amazing what a coaching change can do. But in the toughest division in the American League, Boston is by no means in the clear. 38 of Boston’s remaining games are within the AL East, and 13 of those games are against New York. They could certainly use Pitcher Clay Buchholz back from the DL, but John Lackey, Jon Lester and Ryan Dempster are having great years. Combine that with the league’s highest scoring offense, it is hard to see the Red Sox collapsing this season.
Central
Detroit Tigers: It is really hard to believe this team isn’t better record wise when one takes a look at their statistics. This team has both the best hitter and best pitcher in the American League this season, and it is not Prince Fielder or Justin Verlander. Third baseman Miguel Cabrera is hitting .365 with 30 home runs and 95 RBI. He’s on pace for over 160 RBI this season. Incredible. Baltimore’s Chris Davis is the only player keeping Cabera from winning a second Triple Crown. Then they have Max Scherzer, baseball first pitcher to start a season 13-0 since Roger Clemens in 1986. Verlander had a slow start to the season, but is still 10-6 with a 3.50 ERA. Even still at only 10 games above .500, they lead the Cleveland Indians by 1.5 games. But once they get into the playoffs, and they will, they are my favorite to repeat as AL Champs.
West
Oakland Athletics: Two week ago, I could probably name one player on this team (Miguel Tejada still plays in Oakland right), and somehow this team made the playoffs last season. But after Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes’ Home Run Derby performance, Closer Grant Balfour’s perfect first half, and Third baseman Josh Donaldson’s All-Star snub, the A’s have a roster full of young, unknown stars. Since the 2012 All-Star break, no team has won more games. The only question that remains is whether Donaldson, in his first full season as an everyday player, and other young players can keep up their first-half pace, and can old veterans like Bartolo Colon, 40, stay healthy. I believe they will, thus winning the west again.
Wild Card Teams
Texas Rangers
It’s hard to not have the Rangers winning the West over the A’s because of all the star power in Texas, but then again, Oakland won it last year. The Rangers quietly have a plethora of players of the DL, especially in the starting rotation. Manager Ron Washington expects Yu Darvish to return on Monday to face the Yankees, and Alexi Ogando, Colby Lewis and Matt Harrison could all make returns later on in the season. But don’t be surprised if the Rangers try to land a top notch pitcher or impact bat in a trade. Outfielder Manny Ramirez could be that hitter they want, of course if he’s not too old and rusty, and many think Cliff Lee is the pitcher. I doubt it with the Phillies only 5 ½ back at the break. Someone like Matt Garza is much more likely.
Baltimore Orioles
Slotting the Orioles to be the second Wild Card team in the American League means we will have a rematch of last year’s one game playoff. Baltimore very quietly had three starters on the All-Star squad in First baseman Chris Davis, Outfielder Adam Jones, and Shortstop J.J. Hardy. Combine them with young All-Star third baseman Manny Machado, Baltimore has one of the most potent offenses in the AL. The question is whether the pitching will be good enough, and if the offense can continue their current pace. Can guys like Chris Tillman, Jason Hammel and Scott Feldman get the job done, and lead this team to the playoffs? Or is a trade for a number one pitcher on the horizon? And for heaven’s sake, Davis is on pace for 80 home runs or something like that. Not really, but still, at some point, he could cool off. But these players love playing for Buck Showalter, and expect them to still be playing in October.
So there you have it, playoff predictions for October of 2013. No Yankees, I’m sure that upsets some people. Yes, Yankee fans are people too.
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