Pennant Races

They played major league baseball's All–Star Game the other day, and now the baseball teams all have resumed their regular schedules following the three–day All–Star break.

How does it look in each division?

Well, let's start with the American League.

• In the Eastern Division, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees could be about to treat baseball fans to one of their epic duels. The Red Sox lead the Yankees by two games — but if the season ended today, New York would clearly win the wild–card spot.


• In the Central Division, the Detroit Tigers have a 1½–game lead over the Chicago White Sox. The Minnesota Twins, 2½ games behind the Tigers, are also in the chase.


• In the Western Division, as I have been predicting all season, the Texas Rangers have fallen behind the Los Angeles Angels by 2½ games. The slumping Rangers are 5–5 in their last 10 games while the Angels are 7–3. And don't look now, but the Seattle Mariners are 4½ games out of first place.

It's probably a little premature for this, but I think fans in Cleveland, Kansas City, Oakland, Baltimore and Toronto can probably turn their attention to football season.

The playoff picture seems to be in sharper focus in the National League.

• In the Eastern Division, the world champion Philadelphia Phillies have built a six–game lead over the Florida Marlins. Atlanta is 6½ games out, and the New York Mets are eight games behind.
  
  At 24½ games back (with a winning percentage of .292), I think it's safe to say that the Washington Nationals won't be playing in October. The Nats would need to win about 75% of their remaining games just to finish at .500.


• In the Central Division, the St. Louis Cardinals have been surging lately, thanks in large part to MVP favorite Albert Pujols, who leads the major leagues in home runs and RBIs, and they have taken the division lead. It isn't a done deal, though. Chicago, Houston and Milwaukee are all three games behind, and Cincinnati is hanging in there at 5½ games out.


• The Western Division is the only division in the major leagues that has looked like a lock all season. The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the San Francisco Giants by 6½ games, but the Giants have given the Dodgers some spirited races in the past and could well do so this season. As it is, they are well positioned to take the wild–card slot, But if they falter, the Colorado Rockies are seven games out in the division and next in line in the wild–card standings.

Along with the Nationals, I think it is safe to conclude that Arizona and San Diego are not in the picture. And I am inclined to think that Pittsburgh also has no chance. But all three of those cities have football teams they can get excited about.

We're making our way into the dog days of summer. Baseball's pennant races won't really heat up until the weather starts to cool in the Northeast.

It will take longer before it starts to cool down in this part of the country, but I predict that it won't be long before local attention turns exclusively to the Dallas Cowboys and the approach of football season.