It’s the middle of August and you know what that means? Pennant Race time for all of baseball despite it being a 60 game season enough with the preview stuff lets get to the action on the diamond.
Starting with the division leaders we have the Oakland A’s. Billy Beane has once again built another juggernaut through the farm system over the past few years and now they look ready to regain control of the AL West. Matts Chapman,and Olson along with Ramon Laureano are executing Mr. Moneyballs plan to near perfection on offense, and Frankie Montas is looking like the second coming of Tim Hudson. Even if they got in a fight with the Astros over the weekend they still have the best record in the AL at 12-5.
Next we have another small market success story in the Minnesota Twins who are “YOU GUESSED IT” knocking out home runs and striking out opposing teams’ sluggers. This weekend they hit a slide by being swept in Kansas City but they will need Josh Donaldson and Miguel Sano to snap out of their slump. They are both hitting below 200. At least Jose Berrios and Kenta Maeda are pitching as advertised.
Then there is the Big Bad Yankees. Aaron Judge has cooled off since his threat of Don Mattingly’s record of homers in 8 straight games, Giancarlo Stanton is having one of his better years since being traded to New York, and Gerrit Cole is again putting up ridiculous strikeout numbers yet again. Even if they lost their first series of the year after winning the first 4 the Yanks are once again out for the blood of their enemies.
Leading the Wild Card race, the Detroit Tigers. It looks like their rotation needs a bit more work but the offense is loaded. JaCoby Jones is competing for the AL batting title, Miguel Cabrera back in 2012-14 form, and Niko Goodrum living up to his top prospect potential. All I can say is when is the clock going to strike midnight on this Cinderella Story!
Next there is the pitching rich Cleveland Indians. Shane Beiber, Mike Clevinger, and Zach Plesac are looking like 3 guys that will be the future aces of this franchise. Not to mention this team still has the dynamic duo of Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez on offense, in my opinion Terry Francona always puts together a lineup and rotation that is built for playoff baseball and this year is no different. Well this week they could show their might against the NLs best team.
I am so salty for trash talking on the Tampa Bay Rays last week, I thought this team would play down to it’s competition and BAM they took 3 of 4 from the Yankees. Even though their offseason moves have not lived up to expectations the homegrown guys like Brandon Lowe, Willy Adames, and Kevin Kiermaier are putting up solid years so far in the field and at the plate even though none of them are hitting 300. Charlie Morton may be out for the next two weeks with an injury, Tyler Glasnow is arguably having the best first few starts of a season in his career. Lets see if they can really compete with the big boys going forward.
The Orioles as of late have been Hot and Cold, Getting swept in a 4 game series by the Marlins then technically sweeping their Beltway Rivals in the Nationals with Game 3 not yet finished. Renato Nunez, Hanser Alberto, Anthony Santander, and Jose Iglesias are still putting up their expected numbers from the Baltimore Media, but how will the pitching staff do against teams like the Phillies, and eventually the Blue Jays. All I can say is I don’t have to play that Looney Tunes baseball meme yet.
The White Sox too have been hit or miss as well. Yoan Moncada is still hitting around 300, Luis Robert looks like the centerfielder of the future, and Abreu, the Encarnacion have been ok I guess. The pitching staff has not lived up to the hype so far, and they have to play Detroit a bunch going forward so they have to be able to hold them in vay.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG! Oh No the Astros are getting beat up by Moneyball again! No surprises because the A’s record against them last year. At least Carlos Correa and Michael Brantley are leading the way offensively and even though Justin Verlander has only had one appearance this year because of being on the DL the rotation has not been too bad but there is one player on this team that has been bad. Altuve, paging Jose Altuve! What has happened to this guy. I think he was the architect of their sign stealing scandal. I think that is why he is having possibly his worst season of his 10 year career. He needs to adjust from getting beaned quickly.
The Rangers I will say are in my opinion looking for a new identity in their new stadium. The only thing carrying this team is Joey Gallo, a top prospect in Isiah Kiner-Falefa and the pitching staff. I don’t understand how talented the offense looks on paper and yet they can’t hit this year, oh right Globe Life Field is pitcher friendly.
Almost everyone else that I didn’t mention in the AL is either tanking or I don’t understand what they are doing. I wonder how the Blue Jays did in their first game in their rental of a stadium in Buffalo. They won in extras! AWESOME!
Bragging Rights Sports 