MLB: Day One Hundred and Thirty-One

Posted on | August 21, 2007 | No Comments

Don’t look now but suddenly the New York Yankees are only six games back in the American League East. And the Seattle Mariners seem like they’re back on track in the AL West. Meanwhile the Detroit Tigers continue to struggle in the AL Central.

On Thursday the Yankees did lose and the Boston Red Sox won so the Yanks did lose a game in the standings. But they’re still only six games back and when you consider that they were fourteen games back not too long ago then it’s quite a feat.

The Yankees are firing on all cylinders. They have their starting pitching throwing well, their bullpen is holding and saving games, and their hitting has been just off the charts. In fact, since the All-Star Break the Yankees have easily been the hottest team and the main reason for the success has been their hitting.

As the Yankees were stumbling out of the starting gate way back in April and May, so too were the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners began the season looking like one of the worst teams in the Majors. But the Mariners began playing much better baseball around June and they’ve gradually been gaining in both the AL West and the Wild Card race ever since.

The Mariners did take a couple steps back just after the All-Star Break, but lately they’ve been playing better again. However, the Mariners might have a very hard time catching the division leading Anaheim Angels. So that would leave the Wild Card as the most attainable goal. But there are many good teams contending for that spot including the Yanks and the next team we’ll discuss, the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers have been playing horrendous baseball lately. The only saving grace for the Tigers has been the fact that no other team in the AL Central is playing much better. The Tigers currently sit in second place in their division just a game and half out of first place and behind the Cleveland Indians. But the Tigers are quickly losing their grip on both the division and the Wild Card race. And if they don’t start playing better baseball they may find themselves several games out of a playoff spot when September rolls around.

And so it comes down to several teams vying for division titles and Wildcard spots. The Red Sox seem safe (for now) but the Indians, Yankees, Tigers, Mariners, and Angels are all battling it out for two division titles and one Wildcard spot.

Related posts:

1. MLB: Day One Hundred and Thirty-Five
2. MLB: Day One Hundred and Thirty-Two
3. MLB: Day One Hundred and Thirty-Eight
4. MLB: Day One Hundred and Thirty-Four
5. MLB: Day One Hundred and Thirty-Six

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