Officially past the quarter mark of the 2008 MLB season and we’ve had some surprises, some things we’ve expected and the last place Yankees. We’re going to size up the top teams in each league, then give you the one team to look out for. Us in the sporting world call this the “wild card,” look it up.
AL East
At 31-20 the newly christened Tampa Bay Rays have the best percentage mark thus far. I really like the Rays, their young talent is spry and standing tall like a seasoned porn vet. The longevity of this club to sustain season-long success isn’t going to hold though. It’s going flop like Ron Jeremy staring down a donkey. Don’t expect the Yankees to finish in the cellar, but don’t expect them to beat out Boston or Tampa either. The Rays’ pitching will falter down the stretch, and look for the Sox to take the crown, but the Rays in the wild card.
AL Central
The Chicago White Sox for whatever reason are controlling what was supposed to be the toughest division in baseball. Cleveland is pulling an Austin Powers 2 (can’t find their mojo, keep up class) and Detroit, well, just root for the Pistons. The Sox, I think, are going to hold on to this because, in the long run, pitching wins over outstanding hitting. The Sox rotation is deep, and I have respect for any manager that defends having blowup dolls in a clubhouse.
AL West
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (acronym: LAAA) have a slim lead over the upstart Oakland Athletics. LAAAAAAAAAAAAAA has the edge right now, but if Vlad Guererro doesn’t start to heat up, this club is going sink worse than the title sequence of Temple of Doom. Look for the Athletics to make a late season surge to take the West in the final two weeks.
AL Wild Card
The Boston Red Sox are not a wild card team, and Tampa Bay is not a division winner yet. Look for a post-All Star break surge to push the Sox past the Rays for good.
NL East
I don’t like it when Florida wins. The two times they’ve made the postseason, they’ve won. But can a team with a sub-$30 million payroll win long term? No. Atlanta looks like the chic choice right now, but no one has noticed quite old Ryan Howard and the Phillies chilling at a 29-24 mark. This division is going get tossed around worse than Julia Roberts in Closer, but the Phils take this in the end.
NL Central
This division is a surprise every year. The Cubs have a slight edge right now over the Cardinals. But Albert Pujols doesn’t look like he’s going to be the same type of hitter after that incident with the Padres. Every year I have the same pessimism towards the Pirates, but if they keep hovering around .500, this could be a dangerous wild card team.
NL West
WORST DIVISION IN BASEBALL. Arizona has the runaway in this case, but that’s only because they’re playing in a division with the Dodgers, Rockies, Giants and Padres, a combined 75-119 record.
NL Wild Card
Pittsburgh Pirates. These guys are playing hungry and inspired. Or … maybe it is because of desperately cheap ownership that underpays players that they’re hungry. Meals on the house in playoff time though.
Top five things that annoy me in sports this week:
5. Dan Patrick
Get off your high horse and go back to SportsCenter, you were waaaaaaaaay less annoying there.
4. Danica Patrick
No real reason. Just was inspired the previous offender.
3. NBA Lottery
Seriously? You let a team that was one year removed from the playoffs get the first pick? If New York does not get LeBron in 2010, I will officially admire the Clippers.
2. Detroit Pistons
I would love to bet my friends money on this series, but the Pistons are going Dorian Grey on me.
1. NFL CBA
If there is an uncapped year in 2010, Dan Snyder and Jerry Jones will be in crosshairs.