I heard the phrase The American League Least again while watching the Yankees play the Orioles yesterday and it's just not true.
Even 2 weeks ago it did seem true as the Yanks were in first place with a 26-25 record. However, since then they had a 7 game win streak, the Blue Jays are currently on an 11 game win streak and the Orioles have also been coming on and the Rays are tied with the Yankees in the East.
Going by the total division record-adding up all teams wins and losses-the AL East looks as good as any. If there is a least right now it may be the NL East as the Mets lead with just a 34-30 record with the Nationals who had been slumping badly at 33-30.
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/standings/
As for the team I actually care about, the NY Yankees, they are a nice surprise at 34-28 and a top the AL East. True they are sharing the lead with the Devil Rays-a team they have mostly dominated this year; they had take 6 of 7 from Tampa Bay mostly by large margins until the Rays came back to win the last 3 of a 4 game series, mostly by very small margins.
I've been gratified to see the Red Sox get mopped up by first the Orioles and now the Blue Jays. On Friday night the Sox actually blew an 8-0 lead. However, I did know the Jays would be trouble. I had predicted this about a week ago.
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-folly-of-betting-against-ny-yankees.html
It wasn't just that they were on a streak-that has now hit 11. It's that their run differential which suggested a team with a much better record. Seems they're W-L is now catching up.
The Yanks really are a surprise as no one in preseason thought they would be more than maybe a .500 team; around NY the Mets were the team with some expectations. Which just shows that baseball pundits don't factor in history at all when making their picks.
It is true the big worry for the Yankees remains health. Tanaka has looked like the Tanaka of early 2014. The question is can he remain healthy?
One of the big surprises on the Yanks is how well the old timers have done-A-Rod and Mark Teixeira-the two guys lead the team in HRs and RBIs. Can they last the full season?
Losing Miller recently was a blow to what has been the Yankees biggest strength this year-the bullpen. In a way their depth should save them. The have 2 natural closers with Betances and Miller but with Miller gone it will stretch the bullpen that little bit more.
Still Miller is supposed to be back in a week and a half and as long as he's healthy this shouldn't be a worry. The bullpen should be able to hold up for this short period of time.
Then there is the formidable offense of the Blue Jays as well as the Devil Rays who are tied with the Yanks and the now surging Orioles. Unfortunately, the AL East is far from least these days. Other than the Red Sox, it's the hottest division in baseball with top 4 teams all at least 7-3 in the last 10.
Even 2 weeks ago it did seem true as the Yanks were in first place with a 26-25 record. However, since then they had a 7 game win streak, the Blue Jays are currently on an 11 game win streak and the Orioles have also been coming on and the Rays are tied with the Yankees in the East.
Going by the total division record-adding up all teams wins and losses-the AL East looks as good as any. If there is a least right now it may be the NL East as the Mets lead with just a 34-30 record with the Nationals who had been slumping badly at 33-30.
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/standings/
As for the team I actually care about, the NY Yankees, they are a nice surprise at 34-28 and a top the AL East. True they are sharing the lead with the Devil Rays-a team they have mostly dominated this year; they had take 6 of 7 from Tampa Bay mostly by large margins until the Rays came back to win the last 3 of a 4 game series, mostly by very small margins.
I've been gratified to see the Red Sox get mopped up by first the Orioles and now the Blue Jays. On Friday night the Sox actually blew an 8-0 lead. However, I did know the Jays would be trouble. I had predicted this about a week ago.
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-folly-of-betting-against-ny-yankees.html
It wasn't just that they were on a streak-that has now hit 11. It's that their run differential which suggested a team with a much better record. Seems they're W-L is now catching up.
The Yanks really are a surprise as no one in preseason thought they would be more than maybe a .500 team; around NY the Mets were the team with some expectations. Which just shows that baseball pundits don't factor in history at all when making their picks.
It is true the big worry for the Yankees remains health. Tanaka has looked like the Tanaka of early 2014. The question is can he remain healthy?
One of the big surprises on the Yanks is how well the old timers have done-A-Rod and Mark Teixeira-the two guys lead the team in HRs and RBIs. Can they last the full season?
Losing Miller recently was a blow to what has been the Yankees biggest strength this year-the bullpen. In a way their depth should save them. The have 2 natural closers with Betances and Miller but with Miller gone it will stretch the bullpen that little bit more.
Still Miller is supposed to be back in a week and a half and as long as he's healthy this shouldn't be a worry. The bullpen should be able to hold up for this short period of time.
Then there is the formidable offense of the Blue Jays as well as the Devil Rays who are tied with the Yanks and the now surging Orioles. Unfortunately, the AL East is far from least these days. Other than the Red Sox, it's the hottest division in baseball with top 4 teams all at least 7-3 in the last 10.
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