Hello,
As always thanks to ESPN for many of the assorted facts scattered through this blog. Assume all the accurate facts are ESPNs.
On Tuesday the Dodgers started a two game series with the Yankees. Thanks to Mark Ellis' walk off single in the bottom of the 9th LA won again. It's hard to believe that just a few weeks I expected the Dodgers to find a way to lose, now I expect them to find a way to win. How did that happen?
The two hottest teams in MLB are the Rays and Dodgers, not coincidentally both teams are in first place in their divisions. LA is on their hottest streak since 1953, since June 22nd, LA is 27-6. Literally LA is playing at historic heights. They also have won 16 of their last 19 games, 9 of their last 10 games and 4 games in a row. With the Diamondbacks losing again, LA holds a 3.5 game lead on Arizona. The Dodgers have a 74.7% chance of reaching the playoffs.
Not only extremely hot play but LA also added the Beard to their roster. No not James Harden, but Brian Wilson. No not the sometimes Beach Boy, although the Dodgers had some fun with that. No this Beard is former ace closer of the World Series winning Giants. He's been out for awhile recovering from Tommy John surgery. Wilson signed a one year contract with the Dodgers, he's going on a minor league rehab assignment. The plan is he'll be joining the Dodgers soon. If LA really makes the playoffs, I'd much prefer to see Wilson than either Brandon League or Carlos Marmol in a save situation. It has to be nice to be Ned Colleti and not have to worry about money in signing players.
The first place Dodgers (I like writing that) play their final game of this short series against the Yankees on Wednesday. Although these two teams have had many classic World Series battles, this series isn't a precursor to a World Series rematch. It's highly unlikely the Yankees will even make the playoffs, and the Dodgers are such a rollercoaster who knows what to expect from them? Wednesday's scheduled pitching matchup is Clayton Kershaw (10-6, 1.96 ERA) vs. Hiroki Kuroda (10-6, 2.51 ERA). Kuroda is one of the few former Dodgers that I wish they would have held on to.
While the Pirates doubters are waiting for them to collapse, the Pirates continue to show that they are going to fight to the end. Not only are they likely to finish above .500, but they have a 98.3% chance of reaching the playoffs.
The Pirates are 64-42 after sweeping yesterday's double header with the Cardinals. Pittsburgh has won the first 3 games in this 5 game series and they lead the Cardinals by 1.5 games. Although the Cardinals have hit a rough patch, you'd be foolish to count them out. St. Louis is the last team I want any of my teams to meet in the playoffs. St. Louis is still 62-43 with a 97.4% chance of reaching the playoffs.
Also don't fall asleep on the Reds, although they are 6 games back now. With the NL East and NL West being so pathetically weak there's a very solid chance of the NL Central sending 3 teams to the playoffs.
Boston continues to battle the Rays for first place in the AL East, that division has been as tightly contested as most people expected. Boston trails the Rays by 1/2 of a game and the Orioles are only 5 games back. The Orioles get on a hot streak and they'll be right back in the fight for the division title. It looks like the AL East will be a three team race though the rest of the season.
The Red Sox considerably strengthened themselves Tuesday by trading for Jake Peavy. The Red Sox looked to do well anyway, but this gives them that one more top line starter which gives them even a better shot of reaching World Series glory.
The Braves won yet again as they continue to steamroll the NL East. How pathetic is that division? Did the other teams think the season is over and stop playing? The Braves have won 5 games in a row. The Nationals are 10 games back and they are the second place team? I've seen more fight out of a little Yorkie than the second to fifth place teams in the NL East.
With the Braves running away from the pathetically weak NL East, the Red Sox trading for Jake Peavy and the A's looking strong in the AL West could this finally be the year one of my teams win a World Series again? My last team that won a World Series was the 2007 Red Sox. The Dodgers haven't won the World Series since 1988, it seems money won't be a hindrance in preventing them from postseason success in 2013.
themusicaddict
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