Who’s in first?
AL East: Red Sox (33-21)
AL Central: Tigers (37-20)
AL West: Rangers (30-26)
NL East: Mets (33-22)
NL Central: Cardinals (35-21)
NL West: Diamondbacks (34-22)
Who’s in last?
AL East: Devil Rays (23-34)
AL Central: Royals (14-40)
AL West: Mariners (25-33)
NL East: Marlins (20-34)
NL Central: Pirates (21-36)
NL West: Rockies (27-29)
New blood: Of the eight teams who made the postseason last year, only three would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. Boston, St. Louis and the Chicago White Sox would be those three while the Yankees, Angels, Braves, Astros and Padres all stayed home.
The five new squads would be the Detroit, Texas, New York Mets, Cincinnati and Arizona. How long that quintet can make it last remains to be seen.
A year ago, the Orioles, White Sox and Rangers were leading their respective divisions in the AL with the Twins the top wildcard threat. Washington, St. Louis and San Diego led their NL groups with the Cubs the wildcard leader in the Senior Circuit. Only the White Sox, Cardinals and Padres would eventually fill slots for October play.
The Red Sox, White Sox and Cardinals certainly seem set for a playoff repeat. And the Mets look like the real deal for an NL postseason position. Of the teams presently off the playoff list, the Yankees and Dodgers might have the best shot of pushing their way in.
This week's dogs: For the second straight week, the Houston Astros get the nod. In a week in which the news finally became official that Roger Clemens would be re-signing with the club, the ‘Stros promptly dropped five of six, including being swept at home over the weekend by the Cincinnati Reds.
Coming off an 11-19 month of May, Houston has dropped 10 of their last 12 to sit three games under .500 at 27-30. The starting rotation is a mess. The bullpen, though improved somewhat, is still shaky. And the offense is beginning to revert to its early 2005 form when runs were few and far between.
With the Cubs and the Braves in Houston this week, the Astros can ill-afford anything less than a 5-2 record to close off this homestand. Their next five series against the Cubs (twice), Braves, Royals and Twins are against sub-.500 teams. Clemens will reportedly start the last game of the Twins series on June 22nd, and the club needs to be above .500 overall by that game if they really want to have much of a shot of making a repeat run into the postseason.
Injury News: Finishing up their rehab and returning from the DL last week were Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal, Marlins right-handers Franklyn German and Carlos Martinez and Athletics right-hander Rich Harden.
Heading from the list of healthy to the list of injured last week were Jon Lieber (PHL-goin), Xavier Nady (NYM-appendectomy), Matt Belisle (CIN-back), Joe Eischen (WAS-rotator cuff), David Wells (BOS-knee), Gary Sheffield (NYY-wrist), Mark Ellis (OAK-thumb), Jeff Kent (LAD-wrist), Santiago Ramirez (WAS-elbow), Mike Matheny (SFG-concussion), Darrell Rasner (NYY-shoulder), Albert Pujols (STL-oblique), Jeff Nelson (CWS-elbow) and Scott Williamson (CHC-elbow).
Additional transactions last week included Roger Clemens re-signing with the Houston Astros, and the Cubs and Rangers got together on a trade that sent Phil Nevin and Cash from Texas to Chicago for Jerry Hairston Jr.
Fantasy Studs & Duds: Florida third baseman Miguel Cabrera took over the NL batting lead after he went 12-for-24 (.500) on the week with a homer, four RBI and five runs scored. Cabrera is now batting .361 on the season, a great bargain considering he’s setting Florida’s payroll back by less than half a mil this year.
Pittsburgh third baseman Freddy Sanchez also had a solid week with a .520 average (13-for-25) and eight runs scored. Sanchez is second to Cabrera atop the NL batting list with a .345 season average.
Washington outfielder Alfonso Soriano banged 3 HR last week, driving in eight and lifting his season average to .312.
Toronto corner infielder Shea Hillenbrand his .364 for the week (8-for-22) with a pair of flies, five RBI and six runs scored.
San Diego right-hander Chris Young had no-hitters going in both of his starts last week. He lost the first one in the eighth inning at home before a Brad Hawpe double ruined that bid. In Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh, a pinch-hit single by the Pirates’ Jose Hernandez in the sixth stopped that bid. For the week, Young tossed 16 innings allowing just three hits, three walks and no runs in the two wins.
St. Louis right-hander Jason Marquis won both of his starts last week, against the Astros and Cubs, to lift his season record to 8-4. Marquis has earned the win in each of his last five starts dating back to May 13.
Yankees right-hander Mike Mussina narrowly missed a shutout last Wednesday in Detroit, settling for a complete game with one unearned allowed. Mussina’s 2.42 ERA currently leads the AL.
Boston rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon was credited with a save in both of his outings on the week to give him 20 for the season, the first reliever to reach that plateau in 2006.
Quote(s) of the Week: "The last two games, things have gone my way." - - - San Diego Padres right-hander Chris Young who twice flirted with no-hitters last week.
"Now, we just go through the steps of getting him better. The first thing he has to do is normal things: coughing, sneezing and opening the door. Then we can get more aggressive with the rehab and we can get more aggressive with some baseball activity." - - - St. Louis trainer Barry Weinberg discussing the severity of Albert Pujols’ strained oblique that could cause him to miss six weeks or more.
On Deck: The week opens with the Red Sox visiting the Yankees in the Bronx. Monday night’s Josh Beckett versus Mike Mussina is the top pitching matchup of the series as the two teams battle at the top of the AL East.
Cincinnati, fresh off a series sweep at Houston, visit the Cardinals to start the week in a battle of the top two squads in the NL Central. Brandon Claussen, Eric Milton and Aaron Harang go for the Reds in the series while Anthony Reyes, Jeff Suppan and Sydney Ponson are the scheduled pitcher in the series for St. Louis.
The AL Central also has its top teams going at one anther as the Tigers head to Chicago to play the White Sox for three beginning Tuesday. Nate Robertson, Justin Verlander and Kenny Rogers are slated to start for visiting Detroit. The ChiSox counter with Freddy Garcia, Jose Contreras and Jon Garland.
With both teams struggling just below the break-even mark, the Braves-Astros series in Houston later this week isn’t going to attract a lot of attention though it could be very important for both squads’ hopes for playing this October. The 4-game set opens Thursday with John Smoltz and Andy Pettitte the scheduled hurlers though that could change as Houston shuffles its rotation due to Roy Oswalt’s back and hamstring troubles.
Two present division leaders meet next weekend in Boston as the Red Sox host the Rangers. Vincente Padilla for Texas and Matt Clement for Boston are listed as the starters in Friday night’s series opener at Fenway.
Oakland travels cross-country to New York for a weekend series against the Yanks. Danny Haren will pitch Friday for the A’s with Aaron Small his counterpart in pinstripes.
And Detroit’s week doesn’t get any easier as they travel to Toronto for the weekend after playing on the road at the White Sox. Jeremy Bonderman is listed as the Tigers’ starter on Friday opposite Gustavo Chacin for the Blue Jays.
The loss of Albert Pujols was a killer for the Cardnails. heres everyones chance to get back into the race in the NL central.
The Tigers have been in a tailspin this past week too. The Yankees and Red Sox sure brought them back down to earth, and this week they have another tough week having to play the White Sox.
The Blue Jays are only trailing 4 teams in the American League. Unfortunately, as usual, two of them are in their own division.
But the team looks pretty good and there is some optimism locally. It might help if big bucks signee, A.J. Burnett would get into action but he'll remain on the DL for a time yet.
There are grumblings of malingering but who knows?
I'm not shocked the swept the braves at this time of the season at all. although, i do agree that i'm shocked to see them doing this well at this point of the season.
the team that really shocks me thats doing this well though is the tigers. even with this semi-losing streak there on right now, that still have really been playing beyond anyones expectations.
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