The Sporting Day: MLB Divisional Races

As the dog days of August draw to a close and September rolls around, the divisional races in Major League Baseball heat up as the ballpark temperatures cool. This is the time of year when legendary runs at glory are made and gargantuan capitulations begin. Heads will be swollen and hearts will be broken. Each swing of the bat means more, each defensive play possibly the one that decides the fate of the playoffs. The Fall Classic cannot be won now. But it can be lost.

American League

East: The most analysed and well financed division in baseball is again a race in two. The iconic New York Yankees and the self-styled underdog Boston Red Sox, the two franchises with the biggest payrolls and the most unforgiving fan bases. The Red Sox jumped to a 12 ½ game lead but since the All-Star break the Yankees have whittled away on the back of a healthy pitching rotation and some heavy offense. The lead is now only 5 games and the two rivals meet for their second-last series at Yankee Stadium next week. Boston seem to have fallen apart and if the Yankees can stay healthy, expect them to run down the BoSox. To do so, however, they will need to win at least two against the Sox next week. If they do not, they will be consigned to chasing the wild card.

Central: This division has been mired in mediocrity in recent times. Detroit, seemingly a shoo-in at the All-Star break, have been dreadful and have fallen 1 ½ games behind the Cleveland Indians. The Indians have the pitching in Sabathia, Carmona and Byrd to extend their lead and if their offense starts producing, should hold off the Tigers. Detroit are ravaged with injury and playing too poorly to make any real progress through September. Minnesota is too far back.

West: The Angels and the Mariners will fight out the West. The Angels are the better team with two thirteen-game winners and a hot young ace in Saunders but Seattle just won’t go away. Seattle doesn’t have the arms of the Angels but if Ichiro can keep the Mariners hitting, they will keep on sticking. The smart money will, however, be on the Angels. Seattle will fight it out with the loser of the AL East for the wild card.

National League

East: The Mets have won six of their last seven, they have three active ten-game winners, they have a champion closer and they have one of the all-time greats in Pedro Martinez on the verge of returning. With a five game lead over the Braves and Phillies, the Mets should be far too strong. Both of those sides are in the wild card race with the Braves looking a better proposition after their trade deadline moves.

Central: The most exciting race in baseball. The Cubs and the Brewers are tied with the firing Cardinals only three games back. The Cubs and the Brewers are doing their best not to win. The Brewers are awful away from home while the Cubs are just too inconsistent. Manager Lou Piniella must be going mad. An injury to star Alfonso Soriano has not helped proceedings at Wrigley. Don’t be surprised to see the Cards make a real run at the pennant.

West: The Dodgers appeared to have this division won in early July. They are now six games off the Diamondbacks and floundering. The unheralded Arizona side just keeps on winning and with the second place Padres finding hitting impossible of late, the D-backs from Phoenix look sureties to take the West.