With October On The Line, Who Steps Up?

Charlie Klein

With roughly a month and a half left to play in the 2009 MLB season, there is an awful lot at stake. Here is a division-by-division breakdown of the winners and then a discussion on the Wild Card in each league.

AMERICAN LEAGUE.

EAST Winner: New York Yankees

As much as it pains me to say it, the Yankees of the late 1990s are back ladies and gentlemen. The Bronx Bombers are 25-8 since the All-Star break and while their division rivals Tampa and Boston stuttered out of the gate the Yanks have taken advantage. With a seven game lead on the Red Sox (which could change this weekend), this series against the Red Sox will define the AL East race. I honestly do not see the Yankees losing their lead based on the run of play for both teams.

CENTRAL: Detroit Tigers

Yes, the White Sox are playing improved baseball since their acquisitions at the deadline and Jose Contreras struck out eight last night, but I do not see them overtaking the Tigers for two reasons. First, the Tiggers' rotation is simply better. Verlander is having a Cy Young calibre season and the addition of Jarrod Washburn from Seattle has lightened the load on the other pitchers in that rotation particularly Rick Porcello and Edwin Jackson. Second, I love the Tigers lineup. Miguel Cabrera is clutch and Curtis Granderson is having a fantastic season in centre field.

WEST: Los Angeles Angels

Quite simply, the Angels have been on another level for most of the season. Even with the resurgence of the Texas Rangers this season, the Angels have been the class of the west coast, regardless of league. Ervin Santana has finally reclaimed last season's form and Jered Weaver had a very strong outing last night. The emergence of Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales this season in combination with the steady Vladimir Guererro and Chone Figgins making their lineup just as good as if not better than when it had Mark Teixiera.

AL WILD CARD: Boston Red Sox

This is where analysts like Peter Gammons and Buster Olney make their paper, in getting these predictions right. I know that the Red Sox have not been playing the best baseball since the trade deadline but I have a feeling that that is about to change. While I do not think they can catch the Yankees for the division, they are definitely the favourite to win the Wild Card. Clay Bucholz finally showed why the Sox held onto him last night with six innings of one earned ball with four k's, outpitching the player he was to be traded for Roy Halladay. Victor Martinez has worked wonders in that lineup and Bay and Ortiz are both heating up. Ortiz leads the AL in homeruns since June 6 with 18. I guess all that talk about Papi being termino is well, termino.

NATIONAL LEAGUE.

NL EAST: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

This one has pretty much been decided since the Mets lost their entire major league roster back in June. Both the Braves and Marlins have played better ball in the second half but I do not see them overtaking the Phillies. As I noted in my previous posting, the Phillies rotation with the additions made by Amaro is top notch with six good options to start any game. And the Phillies lineup is the class of the division with even Jayson Werth(less) having 27 homeruns this season. Anything is possible when the Marlins are six seasons removed from winning a World Series, but at least in this division they will not overtake the Phillies come the end of September.

NL CENTRAL: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

It's all about the Cardinology this year in the NL Central. The Cubs played their usual role as annual division winning paper tigers, but when the going got tough, the Cubs failed with their bullpen. The Cardinals 1-2 is the class of the NL with Wainwright having a Cy Young season and Chris Carpenter having a Comeback Player of the Year calibre campaign. Their bullpen is strong and they have the best player in baseball in Albert Pujols. Expect big things from them this fall.

NL WEST: SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

I honestly just have a gut feeling that a team with a rotation the calibre of the Giants cannot miss out on a spot in the playoffs, and that's my justification for picking them to overtake the Dodgers. When the playoffs start and if the Dodgers are the NL West winners, I will give them all the credit. Until that time, I am allowed to be a detractor as much as I like. While the Giants are not going to win very many 13-2 games, they will win most of the 3-2 games. And those are the kinds of games teams play down the stretch and they are also the type of games teams play in the playoffs. Lincecum, Cain, and whoever else they want to throw in there are as good as it gets in a short series.

NL WILD CARD: FLORIDA MARLINS

In America, every four years citizens have the right to vote for a new President, and every six they have had the opportunity to witness the Marlins win a World Series. Winners in 1997 and 2003 in spite of the fact that they were not picked to win either nor did they have the big money payroll that the other teams had. This season the Marlins payroll is a measley $37 million and they are still competing for the playoffs. In each of their World Series winning seasons the Fish Sticks had a pitcher that carried them throughout the playoffs. In 1997 it was Livan Hernandez. In 2003 it was Josh Beckett. In 2009 it will be Josh Johnson. Johnson is 12-2 this season with a 2.85 ERA and 140 K's in 161.1 innings pitched. The Marlins also have Hanley Ramirez, who if he played in a bigger media market would be getting serious consideration for NL MVP. The Marlins play a huge series with the Colorado Rockies this weekend that will go a long way in deciding this race.

PLAYOFFS

I'll save the playoff predictions until the brackets are set, but these would be the result of my picks.

AL

New York Yankees (#1) vs. Detroit Tigers (#3)

Los Angeles Angels (#2) vs. Boston Red Sox (#4)

NL

Philadelphia Phillies (#1) vs. San Francisco Giants (#3)

St. Louis Cardinals (#2) vs. Florida Marlins (#4)