Random Baseball Pennant Race Ramblings At the All Star Break

Here are a few observations at the traditional mid point of the 2014 baseball season (yes we know everyone has played more than 81 games, but we did say “traditional”.

Oh how the mighty have fallen:  The Tampa Bay Rays (44-53) and Boston Red Sox (43-52) are bringing up the rear in the A.L East, 9 1/2 games back.   It would be difficult, but possible for these two teams to get back into contention.  The drop by the defending World Series champion Red Sox to last is not something we saw coming.  The Texas Rangers , another recent power in the American League  are 38-57 and last in the A.L. West, a whopping 21 games behind. The Rangers have the worst record in the majors, and could start trading salary away before the trading deadline.   The Colorado Rockies (40-55) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (40-56) have flopped in the National League West.

Speaking of the National League West, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants are making it a two team race, with the Giants just a game behind.  The other Los Angeles team, is giving the Oakland Athletics a run for their money in the A.L. West.  The Angels (57-37) trail Oakland (59-36) by just 1 ½ games.  Those two teams have the best record in baseball.  As usual, the A’s are quietly having a fine season; the Angels underperformed in 2013 but are playing up to their capabilities this year.

Washington and Atlanta are in a virtual tie for first in the N.L East and have made it a two team race. In the A.L. East, Baltimore has a four game lead over Toronto in a changing of the guard in that division.  The Yankees are only five games out, but with their starting pitching in shambles with injuries, they’ll fade.

The best race is in the National League Central, where Milwaukee holds a one game lead over St. Louis, with Cincinnati just a game and a half back. When the season started, who would have thought that the Brewers would be in first place at the break?  Keep an eye on the Pittsburgh Pirates who are in striking distance at 3 ½ games back.  The Pirates got off to a slow start, but have been putting it together in part due to 2013 N.L MVP Andrew McCutcheon.  In the Pirates’ July 12th game with the Reds, McCutcheon tied it up with a homer in the ninth and then put Pittsburgh up in the 11th with another home run in the Pirates win.

There will be some entertaining races in August and September.