Baseball hits it's midpoint of the season- your thoughts and opinions

[Iceman]

Really surprised how healthy a lot of AL teams got when they played the NL. AL once again proves their dominance is still there.

Tampa Bay is definitley for real and doesnt look like they are going anywhere.

Seems to be a little more parity than normal this year. Doesnt look like there will be any 100 win teams.

From a betting prespective unders have hit way more than overs throughout the season. Have to wonder if the books will catch up with this or continue to post numbers a shade to high.

Home field advantage seems to be a little higher than normal so far this season. Last I heard home teams were winning at a 57% rate (compared to most years at 53-54%)

 

[$tinky]

Been a pretty interesting year. Parity has been biggest surprise to me. You don't see many -200 favorites, and never any 300 fav's.

 

[wannabewhale]

We will see what the Rays have when they hit a hard patch of 4-5 losses in a row. Seems they have been pretty much injury free since Kaz got back.

 

[bookie]

Obviously Tampa and Detroit are the biggest surprises. Although, I think the Tigers have the talent after that terrible start to make a push in the second half.

Detroit Tigers=Colorodo Rockies 2007

 

[steaktartar]

twins.....my team of course they always play with heart but even they have me excited again this year

 

[wannabewhale]

twins.....my team of course they always play with heart but even they have me excited again this year

Twins have played great recently. They have such a wealth of talent here in Rochester to draw from. They still have Liriano to come up as well..

 

[steaktartar]

Twins have played great recently. They have such a wealth of talent here in Rochester to draw from. They still have Liriano to come up as well..

yes...even going all the way back to the 60's they and the dodgers have had the best farm prospects....IMO

 

[OTK]

I only see a couple things that will change in the second half. I expect the White Sox to fall off and either the Twins or the Indians to win the division. The Rays and Red Sox should fight for the division and WC spot all season, although I'm hoping one falls off so the Jays can make a run for the playoffs, but I think both are just too good.

I expect the Dodgers to win their division, and the Mets to win the NL East. Right now I have the playoffs looking like this.

NL East- Mets
NL Central- Cubs
NL West- Dodgers
NL Wildcard- Phillies/Brewers

AL East- Red Sox
AL Central- Twins
AL West- Angels
AL Wildcard- Rays

 

[$tinky]

twins.....my team of course they always play with heart but even they have me excited again this year

if these some bitches could play the NL every game they would break some records.

I guess if they did make it to the world series they would have an advantage of knowing how to beat the shit out of the NL.

 

[AllInAintNothin']

I only see a couple things that will change in the second half. I expect the White Sox to fall off and either the Twins or the Indians to win the division. The Rays and Red Sox should fight for the division and WC spot all season, although I'm hoping one falls off so the Jays can make a run for the playoffs, but I think both are just too good.

I expect the Dodgers to win their division, and the Mets to win the NL East. Right now I have the playoffs looking like this.

NL East- Mets
NL Central- Cubs
NL West- Dodgers
NL Wildcard- Phillies/Brewers

AL East- Red Sox
AL Central- Twins
AL West- Angels
AL Wildcard- Rays

Twins or Indians?

The Twins are way more likely to fall off than the White Sox. The White Sox rely on great starting pitching and a terrific bullpen. The Twins have spotty starters and have been hitting well over 300 with RISP. That more than likely won't continue.

If anything the battle for the central is between the White Sox and the Tigers.

 

[Brock Landers]

White Sox AND Cubs will be in the playoffs for the 1st time in modern history. chicago will be a madhouse!

 

[Akillies]

NL East- Mets
NL Central- Cubs
NL West- Dodgers
NL Wildcard- Phillies/Brewers

AL East- Red Sox
AL Central- CSox
AL West- Angels
AL Wildcard- Rays/tigers

 

[AllInAintNothin']

Things that I've noticed about this year.

The Red Sox aren't as good as their record shows and the Rays are better than their record shows.

The Yankee's are a very similar team as the Phillies.

Anaheim may be the best team in baseball but doesn't get the recognition.

The White Sox have possibly the best overall pitching staff that baseball has seen since the 90's Braves.

The Cubs are possibly the most balanced team in baseball but could use another starter and have to pray that Dempster doesn't fall off.

The NL West is terrible and not one of those teams deserves a playoff spot.

The Tigers will make a run but I think their lack of pitching will hold them back.

The teams that could explode in the second half;

White Sox - All they have to do is hit consistently. They have shown signs of heating up in June and if that continues they may rip off 19 of 24 games along the way.

Brewers - I don't know why but I just think this team may reverse last years trend and have a great second half. A lot of young talent that experienced a pennant race last year.

Rays - I think they could get better as the year goes on. They are just gaining more and more confidence.

Mets - A ton of talent as everyone knows and if they can get healthy they have a chance to run away with it eventually.

 

[Heatwave]

Suprising Good Team Performances:

Tampa Bay
White Sox
Minnesota
Florida
San Francisco - Everyone expected them to lose 100. They are only 5 out of the lead in a terrible division.
Cubs Home Record

Suprising Bad Team Performances:

Detroit - although I still think they win this division somehow
Cleveland - injuries haven't been kind
NY Mets - again, I still think they get to at least the Wild Card
Arizona - 41-41?
San Diego

Surprising Good Player Performances:

Carlos Quentin
Justin Duscherer
John Danks
Joe Saunders
Edison Volquez
The Florida Marlins infield
Adrian Gonzalez - with no protection manages those stats
Jair Jurrjens

Wager-wise - Unreal amount of unders and home teams cashing. Unders have started to wane a bit, but these home records are unreal on some of these teams. In the AL, only two teams have losing home records, KC and Seattle. Only 3 in the NL - Washington, SF and SD.

HW

 

[FairWarning]

White Sox AND Cubs will be in the playoffs for the 1st time in modern history. chicago will be a madhouse!

If the Sox don't make the playoffs, its because Detroit gets super hot. Sox have a huge advantage in the bullpen. Thats where games are won and lost now.

 

[Brock]

My hunch is Detroit wins the American league central. Finally winning over 50%.

 

[trytrytry]

the Twins are winning with mirrors. I pinch myself as I just can not believe how well they are pitching and hitting.

 

[FairWarning]

My hunch is Detroit wins the American league central. Finally winning over 50%.

They fattened up against the dregs of the NL.