It really has been a crazy half. In the first half of baseball the Rays and the Dbacks were two of the hottest teams in baseball, the Yankees spent considerable time in the cellar of their division, the Mets were under .500 and in third or fourth place (when in third, not behind Philly and the Braves, but Philly and the Marlins), the Tigers played poorly, St. Louis was a surprise and the same can be said about the White Sox. As we wrapped up the first half, the Rays started to falter, the Yanks started to rise, the Mets started to streak, the Braves still stunk, the Tigers started to get hot, and the NL West decided to take a vacation.
So out of this mixed up, Bizzaro World Baseball (as Sports Illustrated called it in late May), what parts are true, and what parts are false? The Mets rise is for real, although I am biased, but it will be a race for the division until the end of the season (next weeks games with Philly should be a very exciting, nervous, anxious time for all of us). I like the Rays, I believe they will stay near it till the end, but by mid September the Red Sox will get the division. The Rays are young and they need sometime to build stamina for the long baseball season. When it comes to Detrioit, their recent turn around will continue because they are built to win. If the White Sox keep playing like they are, then this should be a big race down the stretch. I can't believe I am going to say this, but the Cards look good for the wild card, the Mets/Phillies/Marlins race will really need to heat up for two of those teams to make the wild card spot. With the NL West, thats just a shame. A couple of season ago, who ever wanted the West got it, and it looks like it will be the same thing this year. The Rockies and Padres have both been real disappointing this year. I know the Rockies made an impressive run at the end last year, but it will take a lot for that to happen this year. If they trade Fuentes, then its over, if they don't, its probably still over for them.
Lets see this second half of ball! Lets Go Mets!
