Take Me Out To The Ball Game…

Even though it was fun working for the Orioles, I knew it wasn’t going to last forever. Anyway, now that we’re a couple of months into the season, I thought I’d revisit my original roundup post about all the teams. Just for a laugh, you know.

AL East
I knew it would come down to the Yankees and the Red Sox. The less said about Baltimore’s pitching the better, and Tampa Bay has just been awful. Nobody really knows what happened to the Blue Jays… matter of fact, they haven’t been seen anywhere for a few weeks. Someone should probably notify the authorities.

Kevin Brown just went on the DL, Rivera and Gordon are working themselves to death, but the Yankee offense… wow. Even with Jeter slumping horribly to start the year, they’ve still scored 334 runs in 61 games. Boston’s rotation beyond Schilling and Martinez has been an adventure, although Lowe appears to be back on track, and David Ortiz is on track for 143 RBI. I still like the Red Sox to win the division, but it’s going to be a good race. Do note that the Red Sox are 6-1 against the Yankees this year, and 22-10 in the AL East, while the Yankees are only 12-9 within the AL East.

AL Central
I thought Kansas City would do well this season. Boy, was that a colossal mistake. They’re blowing up the team, and they’ve got good reason to do so. I also had no idea that Chicago and Cleveland would score runs in bunches, but the pitching throughout the division is just awful. The Tigers are actually making some strides toward respectability, although they’ve still got a ways to go. Minnesota is staying with the White Sox by playing solid baseball, and finding ways to win. It’s not flashy, but it seems to be working.

AL West
Oakland’s Big Three are still pitching splendidly, although the bullpen is shaky and they’ve had injuries; Anaheim’s pitching has been spotty all around, but the offense has carried them. Texas has managed to hit themselves into the race, but I don’t think they can keep it up; then again, the only one really playing over his head is Michael Young. Seattle’s falling apart, though. It’s fun to watch games in this division.

NL East
As predicted, Philadelphia and Florida are fighting it out for the lead, while Atlanta lurks a few games back. The Mets aren’t as awful as I thought they’d be, due to the remarkable resurrection of Tom Glavine, but Montreal is just awful. Much as I love the Braves, I think they’ve got too many injuries and not enough horsepower to keep their streak of division titles going.

NL Central
Anyone who tells you they expected this kind of season out of Roger Clemens is a lying dog. I’m not as sold on the rest of the Houston rotation as I once was, though. The Cubs are getting better and better, and St. Louis is riding Scott Rolen’s bat for all it’s worth. I have no idea where the Milwaukee Brewers came up with the scrappy team they’ve got this year, but they’re actually making a run at “respectable”, too. Pittsburgh is pathetic, though. This race ought to go down to the wire, but I’m still predicting the Cubbies to take the division crown.

NL West
I’d like to take this moment to crow over my prediction about the Padres. They’re tied for the division lead going into tonight’s games, although that’s mostly a function of their lousy division. The Giants are desperately searching for someone to hit behind Barry, the Dodgers still need some hitters, and Arizona is just old. I thought Colorado might make a run, but their pitching has turned out to be even lousier than I feared.