It looks like the Houston Astros are moving ever closer to the American League. Negotiations continue as MLB seems to really want this to happen and sooner rather than later.
MLB is now discussing possible compensation for Astros owner Jim Crane if the move to the AL is completed. Jim Crane reached an agreement in May to buy the Astros from Drayton McLane for $680 million. From sources close to the negotiations, it is said that MLB has offered Crane $50 million to move the team to the American League. There are those who think that this compensation may come in a reduction of the sale price of the team, but those selling the Astros have denied that any reduction in price is in play. The only other place the money could come from would be an outright payment from MLB itself. Read more... (410 words, 1 image, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)
The Braves have 15 games left in the regular season and the way they have played of late they need every single one of them. They were swept by the Cardinals this weekend, which moved them the Cards to only 4.5 games back of the Braves for the wildcard.
The Braves are now a full 12 games behind the Phillies and have just about zero hope of making up any ground on that score. They do however have to fight to keep the Cards at bay and to not play their way right out of the playoffs. It would be travesty to win 90 games, which the Braves most likely will and to miss the playoffs by losing at the end. That would be taking bipolar to the next level. Read more... (387 words, 1 image, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)
The games that matter most at this time of the season are the in division matchups. While every win and loss counts, the in division matchups can move teams more quickly up and down.
This weekend there are only a few of them on tap. Some will have more impact than others but they are all potential movers.
The Yankees will take on the Rays for the weekend and while the Rays are well out of the division race they can still make things tough for the Yankees who are 1 game back of the Red Sox and trying to stay very close. Both the Yankees and Rays are 7-3 for their last 10 games. Both are on a winning streak, the Yankees with 2 and the Rays with 4. The Red Sox get what one would think is an easy weekend with the Mariners on tap. Red Sox wins and Yankees losses could be very bad and the Rays could find themselves back in play if they could gain a sweep. Read more... (587 words, 1 image, estimated 2:21 mins reading time)
There are now 7 weeks left in the regular season. Just 7 weeks for teams to hold their ground, make a move or start thinking about next year.
Some of the divisions are still close while others are just about sewn up even now. The Red Sox won the season series against the Yankees with an impressive showing this past weekend. That puts the Red Sox 1.5 games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East. The rest of the AL East looks to be out of the competition this year. The Tigers, Indians and White Sox are all still in it in the AL Central. The Tigers have taken the top spot with 4 games over the Indians and 5 over the White Sox but the Sox are on a roll with 4 wins in a row. The Rangers continue to hold a 1.5 game lead on the Angels in the AL West. This has been the story in this division for most of the season so far. Read more... (370 words, 1 image, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)
Just a little over a week ago most of the top spots in the divisions were so close you couldn’t shove a toothpick between them. As the weekend and most of this week has ticked away, a little distance has been put between the top spot and the next place back in every division. As we get ever closer to August and then September, the Wild Card numbers now come into play as well.
American League Read more... (359 words, 1 image, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)
As the dog days of summer tick away, most MLB teams seem to be maintaining the status quo at the top of the standings. Despite some big win streaks and some hard fought games, a lot of the standings remain pretty much the same from week to week.
American League
AL East
The Red Sox continue to maintain their hold on the top spot keeping a 2 game lead over the Yankees. The Rays find themselves 7.5 games back at present and in danger of becoming a nonfactor in the post season race.
AL Central Read more... (459 words, 1 image, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)
Major League Baseball’s second half is now underway and the division races are just as tight as ever at the top. Teams are closer than they have been in years at the top of the standings and parity is becoming harder and harder to find.
American League
East
The Red Sox are 1.5 games over the Yankees. These two teams keep swapping places keeping anywhere from half a game to 2 games between them most of the last few weeks. The Red Sox are on a huge momentum roll winning 9 of their last 10 games and 6 games in a row. The Rays are hanging just on the outside of playoff consideration at this point 6 games back.
Central Read more... (560 words, 1 image, estimated 2:14 mins reading time)
Just a few short days before the All Star Break and the standings look similar and different than what they were just a few short weeks ago. Some teams are holding on to the top spots while others are making a move.
American League
East – The Red Sox are still holding on to their slim lead over the Yankees by half a game at this point. The Rays are 3.5 out at this point. Interleague play continues on tap for the weekend with both the Red Sox and Yankees coming off losses while the Rays hope to build on last win. Read more... (447 words, 1 image, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)
One of the main reasons people cry about Interleague play is that they find their team losing to a team from the other league. Several teams have found their place in the standings affected by their performance or lack thereof in Interleague play so far.
Tampa Bay lost to the Florida Marlins and now find themselves tied with the Yankees for the AL East. The Red Sox lost to the Cubs and made no headway on the two teams in front of them. Toronto and Baltimore benefited by their wins over the Astros and Nationals.
The Indians have now put 7 games between themselves and the 2nd place Tigers in the AL Central by virtue of their wins over the Reds. The Tigers lost to the Pirates and the Twins lost to the D-Backs. Only the White Sox saw an uptick in their games back as they downed the Dodgers. Read more... (364 words, 1 image, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)
The weekend was filled with excitement and great match ups. Verlander tossed a no hitter. The pitchers duels between the Phillies and Braves were outstanding. Derek Jeter proved he’s not finished. And I am no closer to buying the Indians as the winners of the AL Central.
In the AL East, the Yankees and Rangers squared off with each other with Yankees coming out with the Yankees taking two of three and Derek Jeter proving that he’s not finished with baseball yet. The Rays stayed tied with the Yankees for the top spot with a 4 game win streak that shoved the Orioles further into the basement. Boston moved up into 3rd place thanks to a little help from the Tigers who pushed the Blue Jays into 4th place with two losses. Read more... (572 words, 1 image, estimated 2:17 mins reading time)
