Early A L WILD Card Standings

[5teamparlay]

it will be interesting to see how this all works out. the Yankees playoff run has not come to an end.


<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>Tampa Bay</TD><TD>43</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>.597</TD><TD width="5%">-</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>NY Yankees</TD><TD>40</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>.548</TD><TD width="5%">3.5</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>Oakland</TD><TD>39</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>.542</TD><TD width="5%">4</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>Baltimore</TD><TD>37</TD><TD>34</TD><TD>.521</TD><TD width="5%">5.5</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>Minnesota</TD><TD>37</TD><TD>36</TD><TD>.507</TD><TD width="5%">6.5</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>Texas</TD><TD>37</TD><TD>37</TD><TD>.500</TD><TD width="5%">7</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[billhill999]

Yankee playoff run just started, winners of 7 straight, and I can see the Yankess taking 2 out of 3 from the Reds and Pirates (or better) this week.

 

[Mr.Smith]

Lets hope the Yankees make it. Nothing like watching Gay Rod in the playoffs! :Carcajada:

 

[billhill999]

Lets hope the Yankees make it. Nothing like watching Gay Rod in the playoffs! :Carcajada:

He's not pressing anymore, he's locked up for life now with the NYY, do you really want a relaxed A-Rodin the playoffs.

Check the AL leader boards.

 

[Mr.Smith]

It would be a nice story to see Tampa Bay in the playoffs. It could happen. They did just sweep the best record in the NL.

 

[billhill999]

It would be a nice story to see Tampa Bay in the playoffs. It could happen. They did just sweep the best record in the NL.

Agreed, but the feeling here is the Rays will wilt if they get in a heated pennant race in August.

Nice to see them get 34K in attendance on a Thursday.

Plus:
CC is a beast and is getting healthier.
Upton is coming of age.
Navarro's .326 avg.
Kazmir is one of the leagues elite southpaws.
Shields is a nice middle of the rotation starter.
Wheeler and Howell coming out of the pen are doing a great job.
Percival is turning back the hands of time, and is having a monster season.

Minus:
Hinske and Longoria in the middle of the lineup scares nobody.
Floyd is getting old and is a shell of his former self.
Sonnanstine gives up way to many hits.
Garza and Jackson walk too many batters.
Miller and Glover coming out of the pen walk too many hitters also.

 

[Fishhead]

He's not pressing anymore, he's locked up for life now with the NYY, do you really want a relaxed A-Rodin the playoffs.

C'mon, you can't be serious.

Wouldn't you rather have a nervous Lowell, Manny, or Ortiz in the playoffs?

 

[5teamparlay]

UPDATE:
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>Boston</TD><TD>64</TD><TD>48</TD><TD>.571</TD><TD width="5%">-</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>Chicago Sox</TD><TD>61</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>.555</TD><TD width="5%">2</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>NY Yankees</TD><TD>61</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>.550</TD><TD width="5%">2.5</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>Texas</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>.518</TD><TD width="5%">6</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>Toronto</TD><TD>55</TD><TD>56</TD><TD>.495</TD><TD width="5%">8.5</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>Detroit</TD><TD>55</TD><TD>56</TD><TD>.495</TD><TD width="5%">8.5</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[barman]

Teasing BILLHILL a bit as we dissect his post from June 20

Agreed, but the feeling here is the Rays will wilt if they get in a heated pennant race in August.

PLUSES:

CC is a beast and is getting healthier. Finally...five triples in past week

Upton is coming of age. Really need to see him pop 10+ HRs and/or 40 RBI in final two months

Navarro's .326 avg. Slowly wilting...but still a sturdy switch hitting presence

Kazmir is one of the leagues elite southpaws. Needs to get into the 7th inning every time, instead of leaving in the 5th....averaging just under 6.0 per start now

Shields is a nice middle of the rotation starter. Still very true....Actually rates as a "2nd starter" for most teams and IMHO is Rays' best

Wheeler and Howell coming out of the pen are doing a great job. Still true

Percival is turning back the hands of time, and is having a monster season. Gives up taters....but Rays through yesterday are now 29-0 when Percy enters game in Save situation.

MINUSES:

Hinske and Longoria in the middle of the lineup scares nobody. Hinske now batting eighth most days and Longoria is mashing since June 1 at well over .300 and on pace to hit 30+ HRs

Floyd is getting old and is a shell of his former self. Absolutely agreed and it appears he could be seeing even less time with Hinske taking his place and cross your fingers, Rocco Baldelli getting two to three starts a week in RF.

Look for Rays to activate Baldelli, call up Zobrist and demote Gomes and Aybar in coming week.

Sonnanstine gives up way to many hits. Maybe...but few walks and team sure seems to spark on offense when he's in. With ten starts remaining, he could still win 17 to 18

Garza and Jackson walk too many batters. Jackson at 4 per 9ip and Garza now just 2.5 per 9ip....Garza the sneakiest solid "3rd starter" in AL

Miller and Glover coming out of the pen walk too many hitters also. Agreed...Glover now cut and Miller could well be on way out if they bring up a LH reliever for final six to eight weeks....David Price??? (SMILE)

 

[5teamparlay]

UPDATE:

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg0><TD>Wild-card Race</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width="49%"><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg1 align=left><TD colSpan=5>American League</TD></TR><TR class=bg4 id=special align=left><TD align=left>Team</TD><TD align=right>W</TD><TD align=right>L</TD><TD align=right>PCT</TD><TD align=right>GB</TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Boston</TD><TD align=right>73</TD><TD align=right>54</TD><TD align=right>.575</TD><TD align=right>-</TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Minnesota (36)</TD><TD align=right>72</TD><TD align=right>54</TD><TD align=right>.571</TD><TD align=right>½</TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>N.Y. Yankees (31)</TD><TD align=right>67</TD><TD align=right>59</TD><TD align=right>.532</TD><TD align=right>5½</TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Toronto (29)</TD><TD align=right>65</TD><TD align=right>61</TD><TD align=right>.516</TD><TD align=right>7½</TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Texas (25)</TD><TD align=right>63</TD><TD align=right>65</TD><TD align=right>.492</TD><TD align=right>10½</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[djmatt]

Lets go WHITE SOX
=0)

 

[midman2161]

This race is going to come down to the wire between the East and the Central