Aug 21 2008
Perhaps a preview of the American League Playoffs this weekend.
I may get some Red Sox and Yankees fans upset, but four other teams meet in Major League Baseball this weekend in which all could make the playoffs in the American League.
This weekend the Minnesota Twins who are only a half game behind the Wild Card meet up with the AL West leading team the Anehiem Angels, or whatever you want to cal them, they are good. The second match up is the White Sox verse the Tampa Bay Rays which both are leading their divisions and playing well. It might be crazy to think Boston or New York may miss the playoffs but with both teams having key injuries in their pitching rotation might make the difference that the Twins and Rays could overcome. I really cannot wait till I here from Red Sox nation on this one. While the Yankees are almost to far out to make a move and have to win at least 25 games out of 35 just to get back into the playoff race.
I am predicting then that the Rays, White Sox, Twins and Angels will represent the American League. These teams might not be the most fan favorite but the reality is that all of these teams are playing hot and that is what you need to get into the playoffs. The Angels are coasting, the White Sox and Twins are battling and leap frogging for first place in the Central but also winning a majority of their games making their records better with each day. While the Rays are making more believers every day leading the AL East. I know the Red Sox will push for the Wild Card and still have a slight lead but the latest news on Josh Beckett could be a big difference that keeps this team behind Tampa Bay in the AL East and give the Twins a legitimate shot to be the second team from the AL central to represent the American League and the Wild Card.
All of the four teams I have mentioned, will make the playoffs a little strange with no New York or Boston. Although with the way this year is going, it may happen. A glimmer of hope for the Red Sox and Yankees is the Rays and Twins will be on the road a majority of their last thirty games, so that also could be a downfall to them. However, lately thou it really does not matter where these teams are playing because they are consistently winning. I would love to see two small market teams beat out the Red Sox and Yankees for the last playoff spot and just show another example that no matter how much money you invest into a team, team chemistry trumps and wins every time. Both the Twins and Rays are two teams that have the lowest payroll in baseball but still continue to win.
There is still a month left for any of these teams to make a move or fall from the race. That is why the Wild Card has made the last month of baseball so great because even if your teams does not finish in first, if you have played well enough, there still is a chance to go to the playoffs. The Red Sox, White Sox, Angels, Yankees, Twins and Rays will make this push for the playoffs a very interesting one. Everyone continues to doubt the Twins and Rays and even the White Sox for that matter and I hope these teams have the last laugh in the end. The best teams and most healthy teams will win ,that is what happens in baseball after you play 162 games. Ask any expert or baseball guru and they would agree the best teams do go to the playoffs and the rest will falter because of their inconsistencies or deficiencies.
