It’s always fun to look at the baseball standings at different points during the season and project those to the postseason. Especially when teams like the Tampa Bay Rays are in contention. But this isn’t the beginning of May. In fact, this is almost the beginning of July, meaning the halfway point is near, or here, for each team. So the chance that these eight teams could wind up in the race for the World Series is not far-fetched. Here are the projected match ups…..
Tampa Bay Rays (48-32) vs. Los Angeles Angels (48-33)
The Rays are the surprise of the season. Everyone knew this team had the bats, but their pitching has been stellar, with a team ERA (3.71) ranking them fourth in the majors. Naturally, Tampa has no postseason experience and the Angels seem to be there or almost there every year, but don’t think the surprise season would end for the Rays in early October — this team is for real. As for the Angels,
there is a ton of talent on that roster, but they haven’t reached the World Series since winning it all in 2002.
Chicago White Sox (45-35) vs. Boston Red Sox (50-33)
Did anyone think the White Sox were going to contend this season outside of the South Side of town?
Jim Thome and Paul Konerko are struggling, but Jermaine Dye (18 homers, 49 RBI, .306) is quietly having an MVP type season and Javier Vasquez has 104 strikeouts. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are trying to fend off the Rays, and of course the Yankees are never far behind (currently five games out). But Boston has the bats (Ortiz, Ramirez, Lowell) and the pitching (Beckett, Dice-K, Papelbon) to win it all again.
St. Louis Cardinals (46-36) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (44-38)
The fact that the Cardinals, currently as the wild card, have a better record than the NL East leading Phillies is mind-boggling. Tony LaRussa really does know how to get the best out of his roster, and this season he’s proved that more than ever. The Phillies have a Murderer’s Row type lineup (their 110 home runs as a team is second in the majors) and a solid bullpen, but can they go the distance with the Marlins, Mets and Braves nipping at their heels?
Arizona Diamondbacks (41-40) vs. Chicago Cubs (49-32)
The D-backs jumped out to a huge lead but have been floundering lately. The Cubs, meanwhile, have the best winning percentage in baseball and are struggling this weekend against the crosstown White Sox, who they just may meet in the Fall Classic. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. The Cubs are just as talented as last season, when they wound up getting swept by this same Arizona team. Will history repeat itself?
Projected AL MVP: Josh Hamilton, Texas
Projected NL MVP: Lance Berkman, Houston
Projected AL Cy Young: Cliff Lee, Cleveland
Projected NL Cy Young: Brandon Webb, Arizona
Projected AL Rookie: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay
Projected NL Rookie: Joey Votto, Cincinnati
Projected AL Manager: Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay
Projected NL Manager: Tony LaRussa, St. Louis
