The Dog Days of Summer. In baseball terms this is where we find out who’s really good or really bad. Not to mention those who are in-between. Right now in the American League the common theme that I see is the traditional powers rising from the ashes plus a few upstarts. The question right now is who has the firepower to survive long term?
Baltimore Orioles (Character Revealed): I just love the fact that the Orioles are turning into their brothers across Russell Street in almost no time. A patient front office, one of the most potent teams in its sport while overcoming gobs of injuries trying to hold them back. (That and the occasional moment where they have beaten themselves) Speaking of injuries the majority of their pitching staff is in shambles. Kyle Bradish and John Means are done for the year, Danny Coloumbe is probably joining them, Dean Kremer hasn’t been 100%, and they’re trotting out Albert Suarez, a guy who hasn’t pitched in the majors in seven years. Corbin Burnes, and Grayson Rodriguez are the only things keeping the pitching staff relevant. (This is why they’re going to be massive buyers at the deadline, especially now with new ownership) On offense, this team is an absolute machine. Adley, Gunnar, Tony Taters, and the emergence of both Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser. I didn’t think they’d have this good a record with all of the setbacks they’ve had, but when you consider that they’ve adopted a lot of the Ravens tendencies over the years it’s not surprising. However the O’s should be very cautious since the old bullies have come back from hibernation. (Why the hell have you forgotten how to play baseball since coming back from the West Coast?)
Boston Red Sox (The Go-Go Bo-Sox): I knew this would happen from the moment that Theo Epstein came back. The Red Sox have gone from a team that lacked an identity to one of the most potent squads in the AL in a span of a month. Behold the most impactful youth movement the franchise has seen since they called up the Gold Dust Twins in 1975. Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela have become all around studs, their rotation has one of the lowest ERAs in the AL, and oh yeah they still have Rafael Devers destroying pitchers left and right. (Also Masataka Yoshida is now healthy again) You know what the most insane part of this run is? The fact that Boston is about to open their big pockets at long last. With this hot streak they’re on, they’re going to be massive buyers at the deadline especially when it comes to rounding out their starting nine. I don’t know if the Red Sox can keep this up for the rest of the season, but right now they’ve definitely gotten themselves back in serious playoff contention. They’re going to get Jazz Chisholm aren’t they? (Makes sense since Trevor Story can’t stay healthy)
New York Yankees (The Best Of Both Worlds): Watching the Yankees this season is like going on one of those massive roller coasters at Hershey Park. Early on, everything is going well. Juan Soto is everything that the fanbase wanted and thensome, Aaron Judge was invincible in May, Luis Gil becomes their next revelation on the mound, Clay Holmes is back in 2022 form, and they have the best record in baseball with everything humming like a bird. And this was without Gerrit Cole and Jasson Dominguez nonetheless. What happened when Cole returned? (BOOM!) And down the SkyRush Coaster they go! Once the Orioles walked into Yankee Stadium and pounded them for 17 runs, the Yanks have been in a tailspin. Yes Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo are injured, plus Judge and Soto have cooled off just a bit. But when you put all of your eggs into the basket of their two cornerstones plus Anthony Volpe, yeah that’s not going to work out. Especially since Gil and Holmes have been hit around as of late. With Brian Cashman being on the hot seat in the eyes of the fans (Don’t tell that to Hal) he knows that they need to go big game hunting at the deadline especially in the bullpen. Can this team really make a deep run with their current roster? That’s the question I want to know down the road. Although who is Ben Rice and how is he hitting like a mad-man as of late? Just what their offense needed. (Even when they take 2 of 3 from the O’s, Yanks fans still want heads after how that series ended)
Tampa Bay Rays (Trying To Fix A Tweak): It’s kind of odd to see the Rays hovering around 500 at the All Star Break. But to be fair they did have a brutal start and their pitching staff is still battered by injuries. Luckily for them there is still time to write this ship, but I don’t know if they can keep up with the Joneses of their division. Especially now that the old bullies have passed them. Luckily they still have Isaac Paredes as well as Yandy Diaz but they’re going to need Arozarena to get out of his mid-season slump if they’re going to make a run at a Wild Card spot. This team is literally Jose Siri. A player who has tremendous talent across the board yet lacks consistency. It was the same issue they had at the end of last year. And considering that they don’t want to give up top prospects at the deadline, it’s going to be an uphill climb for them. But hey at least you got that new stadium you’ve been begging for since the turn of decade. There’s one problem, it’s going to be right next to the Trop. You do realize the traffic going across Tampa is ridiculous right?
Toronto Maple Leafs (2023 Los Angeles Chargers): I’m going to treat this segment just like the Blue Jays whenever they go up against a real team. Exposed, getting manhandled in every sense of the word with Vlad Jr being hung out to dry. In no way should this team be eight games under 500 at the All Star Break with the talent they have, but then again this is a team from Toronto. If you thought they suffered enough from the Maple Leafs underachieving, this is adding gasoline on a massive house fire. Bo Bichette has had a down year, the Cavan Biggio experiment failed to the point where he was shipped off to the Dodgers, and George Springer lets just say has one of the worst contracts in baseball. When past prime Justin Turner is one of the best hitters there is a serious problem. It also doesn’t help that their entire rotation has an ERA of over 4. There is one question that I must ask. No it’s not whether they should blow it up, I can definitely see them doing that at the deadline. But how is Ross Atkins still employed? (The same goes for John Schneider too) All of the big moves he’s made over the last decade other than trading for Josh Donaldson have failed miserably. This team hasn’t been the same since the 1994 Strike other than two years in the mid-2010s. Where’s the Labatt’s Brewing Company when you need them. (Ever since that company sold the team in 1995, it’s been downhill for them)
Chicago White Sox (The Black Plague): Another year on South Side and another year of massive tanks rolling around. This time I find it hilarious since the only memorable thing I can state is their new play by play announcing whining and moaning about unfair treatment. Really? You’re mad because you guys got UMPBALLED by the Orioles and Brewers? Two franchises that have been screwed by the men in blue for years? That doesn’t change the fact that this is absolutely garbage. Especially their hitting lineup. They’re on pace to set the record for most strikeouts in a season. If I’m Luis Robert, I’m getting out of there as soon as I can. This is what happens when a once great owner is well past his expiration date. If Reinsdorf was able to adapt to the modern game, the White Sox wouldn’t be in the disastrous situation that they’re in. The Cubs fan in me is laughing hysterically at the mess they are. Let me guess, SoxFest got canceled again. Yippee!
Cleveland Guardians (There’s The Power Surge): For the last few years the Guardians have been one of the worst hitting lineups in baseball. Other than Jose Ramirez the talent around him has been underwhelming, and it held them back from their potential. That was until this year. Who knew that replacing a retiring legend in Terry Francona as the manager would completely change the focus of this team. So far Stephen Vogt has been a demigod in the City by the Lake. Not only is Ramirez putting up an MVP season, but the entire offense has joined him in destroying pitchers. Josh Naylor has finally broken out, Andres Gimenez and Steven Kwan have been on a tear as of late. (Kwan has been so good that he’s running away with a batting title) And how did David Fry become one of their strongest hitters? (YoYo Sound) And then the clock struck midnight on him and he’s struggled since mid-June. The insane thing is that their starting rotation which was once their biggest strength under Francona hasn’t been the headliner. It’s been their bullpen. Emmanuel Clase and company have shut down nearly every lineup they’ve faced. (The modern day Nasty Boys if you want a comparison) The key when facing Cleveland is simple. If you don’t put them away by the 6th inning, you’re dead meat. But once again, are they that good, or is the weak schedule of the AL Central playing a big factor? And oh won’t you look at that they also got the #1 Overall Pick to work with! Travis Bazzana is going to be a stud isn’t he. (Speaking of the draft, the scriptwriters for Charm City Beasts have found one of the destinations they plan to go to for Season 5)
Detroit Tigers (Uh, You There Buddy?): I thought that the Tigers would take that next step towards playoff contention at the start of the year. Right now I don’t know what to think of them. There are instances where they show flashes of what they could be, but then there are times where they just look flat. You can understand their high upside. Riley Greene and Colt Keith are rounding into potential future cornerstones. Although for Javy Baez and Spencer Torkelson, the less said about them the better. The only thing keeping Detroit competitive this year is a talented pitching staff, but even then most of those big pieces could be sold off at the trade deadline. I really hope they don’t trade Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty, both of those men have carried this staff kicking and screaming to relevance. (Why could Flaherty do this last year with the O’s?) Especially since Casey Mize still hasn’t adjusted to big league hitters. They’re too good to be bad, but too bad to be good. The definition of a mediocre baseball club. That Baez contract plus the dead money they’re still paying to Jonathan Schoop has held them back big time.
Kansas City Royals (Double The BBQ): So it turns out that all the offseason moves made by the Royals front office were for a reason. And as of right now it’s been a success. Kansas City is not a legitimate contender but they certainly are better than what they’ve been the last few years. Bobby Witt Jr, oh boy is this young man fun to watch. Both with the glove and the stick. There’s also the renaissance of Salvy Perez who’s found the fountain of youth so far this season. Add in MJ Melendez and a now healthy Vinnie Pasquentino and you’ve got yourself a squad competing for the final Wild Card spot. The question for the Royals this year is their pitching staff. Seth Lugo has been a major success for them this year as has Cole Ragans and Brady Singer, but the bullpen does need a little bit of help. James McArthur is solid, but as of late he’s been very inconsistent. This is probably the learning experience year, and with the trade deadline coming up, it’ll be interesting to see what the Royals do. If they get a big fish, they’ll be gunning for a certain power in their own division.
Minnesota Twins (The Definition Of Underrated): I find it interesting that the Twins have gone under the radar for most of the season. They did have a rough stretch in late May, but since then they’ve made themselves known as a team to not sleep on. Especially with their lineup. Even if Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton, and Ryan Jeffers have been fighting injuries, they’ve still found ways to take opponents deep. And thank goodness for that because almost every single starter of theirs has an ERA of over 5. Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, and Bailey Ober struggling? SACRILEGE! But don’t you worry the bullpen led by Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax has been mowing down hitters. Well when they aren’t playing down to Kansas City. There’s still a few pieces missing in order to make this legit title contender, but luckily for Minnesota, they’re looking to take advantage of a few teams going through a yard sale. I’m looking right at Toronto and San Diego.
Houston Astros (Topsy Turby): The Astros this year are doing their best to relive their 2005 run to the World Series. Start off the season terrible, with many questions about whether or not their window is slammed shut, their rivals gaining a big lead in the division, key players getting injured, and the pitching staff dragging them straight to relevance. And then they shed a bad contract and become a machine once again. Just like with Jeff Kent during the 05 season, Houston chucked Jose Abreu out of town, and all of a sudden they’ve rediscovered the art of domination. What was once a 12 game deficit to the Mariners has been cut to 1 game. Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve once again are the main engines to their success, and even if Justin Verlander is massively declining, they’ll just chuck Ronel Blanco into the picture and he’ll throw a no hitter in his second start of the year. Unlike previous years, Houston is very top heavy, but knowing them, they’re going big game hunting for talent come the end of July. All they need is one major trade and they’ll be on cruise control towards the playoffs. You can manage right?
Los Angeles Angels (Eternal Frustration): It’s gotta be massively frustrating to a fan of this team or work in this organization. Think about this for a second. The Angels have nearly the same record that they did last year at this point of the year with Ohtani and Trout. Now one of them is gone, and the other is injured and may never play another game in Anaheim. When Logan O’Hoppe and Taylor Ward are their best hitters it comes to show you that whenever a star player leaves, others who were supposed to be supporting him elevate their games. (This is literally the Texas Rangers of the mid 2000s) Even Jo Adell finally lived up to the hype surrounding him for years. (YoYo Sound) Nevermind, he’s been absolutely garbage since early June. What about the pitching staff you say? That hasn’t changed one bit. It’s still giving up cookies and meatballs on a daily basis. Well excluding Tyler Anderson that is. I find it hilarious that whenever the Angels are picked to be good they suck, and whenever they’re picked to be bad they exceed expectations. And that’s despite being 14 games under 500. I guess some of these teams don’t understand what it takes to win. (It also doesn’t help that Arte Moreno is the king of awful contracts)
Oakland Athletics (The Final Days in Oaktown): The tanks are still rolling around Mount Davis during its final days but it doesn’t feel as bad as last year’s tank felt. Despite all of the losing they have put the three highest run totals in a game this year throughout the majors. Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers are looking like potential studs going forward. Mason Miller has been a dynamite closer who’s expected to get a massive haul at the trade deadline if the A’s choose to trade him. But right now, it’s not the future that’s important for this franchise. It’s remembering the past. This is the final half of the A’s stay in Oakland. And they’ve made it clear that they’re going to spend a couple of seasons up north in Sacramento while the new shrine in Vegas is being built. Knowing the luck of this franchise, once they move to Sin City they’re going to be contenders overnight and Fisher will spend like he never has during his time as owner. In my opinion he’s taken the advice he got from watching Jerry Maguire. SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Seattle Mariners (A Tale Of Two Parks): This is probably the one team where you can literally judge them by where the game is taking place. At home in Seattle, the Mariners are a World Series Contender. Stomping almost every opponent that comes into T-Mobile Park with J-Rod and Cal Raleigh playing long ball on a near daily basis, plus a loaded rotation. But once they leave the Pacific Northwest and play on the road? (BOOM!) Yeah that explains the logic of being a team that is so hard to judge. In addition to having one of the best home records in the game, Seattle has perhaps the worst record in baseball on the road. It’s not Colorado Rockies levels of bad but still not a good sign. That and an inconsistent bullpen plus no depth behind their big guns on offense is holding this team of its true potential. I know that the Mariners have the talent to make a run at a division title. It’s just that we don’t know when it’ll come into play. The 2nd Half is going to say a lot about not only this season, but where this squad will be going forward. If they get overtaken by Houston again, I expect a ton of moves made by the front office to go all in. Now just don’t trade Julio like you did with Griffey in 2000.
Texas Rangers (Championship Hangover): When I said that the Rangers wouldn’t take a step back after winning it all last year I kinda lied. However most of it especially when it comes to the pitching staff mostly isn’t their fault. Max Scherzer and Jacob DeGrom were shut down by injuries, the bullpen reverting back to how much of a wacky taxi ride that they were last summer, and most of their big contributors experiencing down years after coming through in the clutch last year. Evan Carter, El Bombi and Leody Taveras come to mind, plus Wyatt Langford hasn’t reached his potential yet even though it’s still very early. But at least their two middle infielders are their typical selves at the plate. If not for Seager and Semien this team wouldn’t be anywhere near a playoff spot. You want a moment that best summarizes this season for both the Rangers and their fanbase? Here, have it. Ingrid Andress singing the National Anthem at the Home Run Derby after having a few drinks just moments earlier. That is literally how this season has gone for Texas up until this point. (Doing the bare minimum to complete a simple yet hard task while reminiscing about winning the World Series. A very dangerous game indeed) As someone who covered the Cubs both before after their run to a title in 2016, something about winning a championship makes you less aggressive the following year. Although I could be wrong since this is a Bruce Bochy led team, and the Rangers have always thrown money at everything that moves. All they need is one hot streak, and they’ll be back in it. PAUSE.
What fascinates me isn’t the races for the division titles, especially the AL East. It’s the race for the Wild Card spots. Kansas City could go from one of the worst teams in recent history to making the playoffs in one year. The return of the Red Sox Empire is also a major point of emphasis. Plus I wouldn’t sleep on a Rangers or Rays revival. However I must pick and choose who I think will make it. So here it is:
AL East: Orioles
AL Central: Guardians
AL West: Astros
Wild Cards: Yankees, Red Sox, Twins
Sorry KC and Seattle, but you’re the odd men out in this case! Especially considering that both teams could be losing a bit of steam. Not to mention every fan of New York and Boston will accuse me of being a homer.
Bragging Rights Sports 