Rays and Twins look to make ALCS

AL Division series

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The matchup should be a good one. You have Cliff Lee against David Price. You have Josh Hamilton against Evan Longoria. You have the underdog against the underdog.

But the truth is that the Rays have been here before, while the Rangers are new to the October experience. Lee can easily drive a team to the World Series, but the Rays have the home-field advantage.

Texas was 0-12 on the road against the three other teams in the postseason, and Lee can only pitch twice. If B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria get hot, the Rangers will need to outslug the Rays. But, the Rays have a 3.78 ERA from the regular season, which is the best among any contender.

Rays in four

New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins

The Yankees are the defending World Series champions. They have one of the best pitchers in the American League with C.C. Sabathia. They have one of the best closers ever in Mariano Rivera. They have a lineup stacked with All-stars and players with postseason and championship experience.

The Twins were one of the hottest teams in September, and they hold home-field advantage. They don’t beat themselves, but the Yankees committed fewer errors. So, how can the Twins pull off the series win?

Minnesota finds ways to win, and they are facing a Yankees team that limped into the playoffs. If you were going to have a chance to dethrone the champs, this is it.

With Jim Thome’s left-handed power and a home crowd behind them, I think the Twins pull off the upset. The Yankees have rotation troubles after Sabathia, and Phil Hughes or Andy Pettite will have to pitch twice with Sabathia.

Twins in five

Teams are set; seeds are not

AL CENTRAL

Home-field advantage can be an important commodity with the competition as close as it is. More home games doesn’t make a team a favorite, but it does what it says, giving a small advantage.

The Minnesota Twins have not exactly run away with the notion. Instead of trying to earn the top spot, they are resting players. Instead of staying hot, they are losing.

No one wants to go to New York or Tampa Bay. The Twins will need to get their heads back in the game as if their playoff berth is finalized yet.

AL EAST

The race is one of the best in recent years. The Yankees have four games left, all on the road. They are at Toronto and Boston.

The Rays have five games left. They have their last home game tonight against Baltimore, and they have four at Kansas City.

They are in the playoffs already, but the division winner gets a home series against Texas. The loser goes to Minnesota.

On paper, the Rays have the advantage with the schedule, but as a White Sox fan, I know Kansas City is not a welcoming place in September.

AL WEST

No wins on the road against the other teams in postseason. I repeat. The Texas Rangers have no wins on the road against the other teams in postseason.

So, why are fans still excited? The Rangers are first in the American League with a .276 average. They are fourth with 766 runs, fifth with 159 homeruns and fifth with a 3.94 ERA.

The ERA is even more important, since the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics are ahead of them. In terms of the postseason, they are ahead of the Yankees, a potential first-round opponent.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS September 29:

1.) Tampa Bay Rays - It could be the best thing to have to win until the last day. They may be the hottest team if they pull out the division.

2.) Minnesota Twins – Even if they can’t get home-field advantage, they are guaranteed three home games to two in the ALDS.

3.) New York Yankees – They don’t want to go to Minnesota to start the playoffs.

4.) Texas Rangers – The critics will be answered in Tampa Bay or New York.

5.) Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox have clinched the best team not in the playoffs.

Twins are looking like the new favorites

AL CENTRAL

With the division wrapped up, the Twins are now looking to win and gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. How did they suddenly become the hottest team in the Central Division?

They are fourth in runs scored in the American League with 734; They are second in hits with 1425; They are third in doubles with 299; They are first in triples with 37; They are tied for first with a .277 average; They are fourth in slugging percentage at .427.

Pitching-wise is another story. They are first in ERA at 3.76, and they have walked the least amount batters (348). On defense, they are second with only 68 errors and have only allowed 75 stolen bases, the third fewest mark in the American League.

If that isn’t a complete team contending for a championship, then no one is. The Twins have everything, and they don’t beat themselves.

AL EAST

The Yankees are playing the Rays now in a four-game series, but the outcome of the division will not be decided until the end.

With the Rays easier schedule, they still have the edge, especially if they salvage at least a split in the series now.

Both teams are going to be in the playoffs, so the teams are fighting for a home series at the moment and maybe home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers should begin preparing for a road playoff series, and they need to gain confidence on the road.

They are still a threat with Cliff Lee going twice in a short series, but they need to make it to a fifth game for that to happen.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS September 22:

1.) Minnesota Twins - They have everything – pitching, defense, and offense. If they earn home-field advantage, they should be the favorite for a World Series.

2.) New York Yankees – With the division and home-field on the line, they are playing good ball.

3.) Tampa Bay Rays – They cannot afford to drop too far behind the Yankees.

4.) Texas Rangers – They need to get rested for a playoff road trip.

5.) Boston Red Sox – The question of What if plagues this team.

Yankees and Rays continue to battle for the East

AL CENTRAL

The Minnesota Twins should begin to worry about playoff position and how they matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays and The New York Yankees.

The Twins are eight games in first place after a win tonight, and they are five games in front of Texas for the second seed in the American League.

The bottom-line is the divisional record. The Twins are 41-20, while the Chicago White Sox are 30-34. You cannot win the division without winning within it.

AL EAST

The only division with a September race is heating up. The Rays take two out of three at home from the Yankees, and they are a half game in first place.

The winner of the division will most likely get a Texas Ranger club that is 0-12 on the road against the other playoff teams. The loser gets a fundamentally sound Twins team that is getting hot at the right time.

The race should go down to the final weekend of the year, and it looks as though the Rays have the edge with strength of schedule.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers will win the West, but they are in danger of travelling to New York or Tampa Bay in a short series.

Cliff Lee is more effective in a longer series, because he could go three times if needed. In a short series, the Rays and Yankees have deeper staffs.

Not to mention, the Rangers are winless on the road in both stadiums. They will need to get hot down the stretch.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS September 15:

1.) Tampa Bay Rays - When you take two of three from the Yankees to jump into first place, you are taking the correct strides to become a serious contender.

2.) New York Yankees – They have the honor of hosting four games with the Rays to show try and show they are the better team.

3.) Minnesota Twins – The team that gets the Twins in the playoffs better watch out. They are playing the best baseball right now.

4.) Texas Rangers – Can they win on the road in postseason?.

5.) Boston Red Sox – They have a better record than Texas, and they aren’t going to be in the playoffs.

Do-or-die; White Sox and Rays try to keep division hopes alive

AL CENTRAL

The Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins continue to win, and it leaves the Twins with the upper hand and a superior lead with only a few weeks remaining in the season.

The big series coming up next week will be the do-or-die time for the White Sox, but the Twins have won 10 of 15 games against them so far this year.

If the White Sox don’t sweep, it will be nearly impossible to overcome the deficit.

AL EAST

The New York Yankees hold a slim two game advantage, and they have lost ground by losing to the Baltimore Orioles. With so many games against the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox coming up, the Toronto Blue Jays and Orioles have to be taken care of.

One interesting fact in the lead: The Rays are only one game behind in the loss column, which is all that matters this time of year. If the Rays win the games, they are really only one game out.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers are stumbling into the postseason, and the issues continue to be on the road. They have dropped 14 games out of their past 18 on the road, and they are likely to play the Yankees or Rays on the road in the postseason.

If anything can help the Rangers, it will be a healthy Cliff Lee in a short series. But, he has had a few health issues lately, including lower back pain that can be detrimental to a pitcher.

A pitcher cannot twist, which is needed to mechanically throw, if there is back discomfort. It usually throws the arm off-balance and leads to balls up in the zone.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS September 8:

1.) New York Yankees - It seems like they may be hitting a lull, but they are building a lead with just a weeks remaining.

2.) Tampa Bay Rays – The division is in reach if they can beat the Orioles and Blue Jays with the Yankees.

3.) Minnesota Twins – The Twins always find a way to win in September.

4.) Texas Rangers – Cliff Lee must be healthy if they want to win.

5.) Chicago White Sox – Despite being close to elimination, they are playing really good baseball right now.

The September Pennant Race is here

AL CENTRAL

September is upon us, and the Chicago White Sox are running out of time. They just finished a sweep of the Cleveland Indians, but they play a key 3-game series in Boston followed by a 4-game series in Detroit.

The Minnesota Twins, who have three games against the Texas Rangers, are three and a half games in first place, and they have an advantage based on their Central Division record.

The Twins have 18 games left against the Central, while the White Sox have 13. The Twins are 34-18 against their division rivals, while the White Sox are 27-29. The White Sox have to beat the teams in their division, or it will be easy for the Twins.

AL EAST

As it stands now, the New York Yankees hold a one game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the division. I guarantee it will change until the last game of the season. There are two keys for the Rays to win.

They must survive a tough 9-game road trip against Baltimore, Boston and Toronto, and they have to win the 7-game series against the Yankees, three games in Tampa Bay from Sept. 13 to 15 and four games in New York from Sept. 20-23

We should know who will win the division after the last series between the two teams. The Yankees have a little tougher schedule in the last week, so they will need to have a cushion.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers would like to have a home series in the playoffs, so they will need to go back to the tear they were on in June and July.

They are 31-32 on the road, so the struggles can lead them to an unwanted road start in New York or Tampa Bay. The Rangers will find out quickly if they can win on the road after traveling to Minnesota this weekend.

They may find out how much they want to play at home after a series with New York next weekend. They are 0-9 on the road this season against the Rays, Twins and Yankees. They are 6-3 at home, without losing a series.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS September 1:

1.) New York Yankees - They have taken a lead by a nose.

2.) Tampa Bay Rays – They have a big test on the road starting on the weekend.

3.) Minnesota Twins – With a stellar division record, they may have already won the Central.

4.) Texas Rangers – They don’t want to be on the road in October.

5.) Boston Red Sox – They are lucky they have so many chances in September against the top teams.

White Sox catch injury bug; Rays and Yanks march on

AL CENTRAL

With injuries to Matt Thornton and JJ Putz, it seems like the Chicago White Sox are getting into a tough position. They stand three and a half games out of first place, but the reality could be the injuries can prevent them from getting any closer.

The left-handed power hitter has been absent, but the acquisition of Manny Ramirez can help with the glaring weakness. He may not be left handed, but if he can provide some runs, the White Sox can be better.

The Minnesota Twins may be at the one point in the season, where they can lose a lead. However, it also looks like the White Sox are at a point where they won’t gain any.

AL EAST

The Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees, the top two teams in baseball are deadlocked with 78 wins. They are both still closing in on 100 games, and they are also closing in on the playoffs as well.

The Rays are going to play in a big series this weekend against the Boston Red Sox. If the Red Sox want to get back in the race, the weekend may be a big chance.

The Yankees will be playing some teams coming up to maybe gain a little space in the division race.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers were struggling, but they have done well against the Twins this week. They need to continue to build momentum back for the playoffs.

Cliff Lee has been giving up more runs than he has in a while, and the Rangers are struggling during the slide. They will need him to do better, so they can clinch the division and get ready for October.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS August 11:

1.) Tampa Bay Rays - They will have a chance to get closer to the playoffs this weekend.

2.) New York Yankees – At this point of the season, they are looking as good as last year.

3.) Texas Rangers – The overall team is looking dangerous come October.

4.) Minnesota Twins – They will need to show they can go deep into the playoffs by beating contenders.

5.) Boston Red Sox – The chances to get back in the race are waning. The weekend will be a test.

The Twins continue to amaze; the Rays aren't going anywhere

AL CENTRAL

The Minnesota Twins are proving once again why they always seem to come out on top at the end. They just play baseball. It is that simple.

Look at what happened. The Chicago White Sox went on an amazing tear to jump a few games in first. The Twins just keep playing, and they handle the division foes, only losing two games to the White Sox in eight games.

The biggest mistake from the White Sox may have been to let Jim Thome go to Twins. He may be older, but he proves he still has power off the bench and is a better designated hitter than anything other teams have. Plus, he is the left-handed power hitter they lacked all year.

The White Sox need to take the next two games, or the Twins will simply run away with the division. But, don’t count them out. They still have very good pitching, even with the Jake Peavy injury. They simply just need some luck to pull out some of the closer games.

AL EAST

Well, no surprise that the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays are tied a top the division. The big deal comes with both teams handling the Texas Rangers.

The winner of the division is still the prize; however, and the Rays and Yankees play each other six more times in September. But, the Boston Red Sox will not go away yet. They are 5½ games back, and they play two big series with the Rays in the next few weeks and two series with the Yankees at the end of the season.

There is still plenty of baseball to be played in the Eastern Division.

AL WEST

The one problem with having your division locked up so early is losing the drive to need to win. The Rangers were on a roll, but they have slumped lately.

It is never a good thing, when you lose a step in September. It is rare that a team can suddenly catch fire when the playoffs start. However, the Rangers have good pitching and lots of power.

So, they need to do better against the playoff contenders. They have four with the Twins next week, and the other home-field advantage spot is on the line. It would be a good statement to take care of business at home against a potential October opponent.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS August 11:

1.) Tampa Bay Rays - With the season winding down, the Rays have one of the best pitching staffs from top to bottom..

2.) New York Yankees – It really should be a tie for the top spot here, but the Rays are looking like they did in 2008.

3.) Minnesota Twins – When you beat the division rivals, you move up in the standings. The Twins may have the best defense of any team and rarely make mistakes.

4.) Texas Rangers – They aren’t in trouble, but they don’t want to stay mediocre for long.

5.) Boston Red Sox – They will be one of five teams with 70 wins before any other AL team, but they have the least chance to make the playoffs.

The Twins are back in first; The Rays are climbing back into first

AL CENTRAL

The Chicago White Sox cannot defeat the Minnesota Twins, and they must turn the tide to win the division. The Twins seem to have the White Sox number, winning four of five since the White Sox were in first.

Now, the Twins are back, and they are ready to put a nail into the foot. If they win this series and next week’s series, the White Sox will be in a bad place with just over a month to play.

In other news, the Tigers are done.

AL EAST

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays will be together for the rest of the season, and the Boston Red Sox have shown they don’t have consistency to challenge them for a playoff spot.

The interesting thing lies with who will win the division. The Rays and Yankees go in slumps while the other team gets hot. Whatever team is hot during the last few weeks will probably win the division.

The Red Sox may also play spoiler to one club or the other. They still are one of the better teams in the league.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers are thinking playoffs. There is nothing else to be said in the West. The Oakland Athletics need hitting. The Los Angeles Angels need hitting. The Seattle Mariners need hitting. The Texas Rangers …

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS August 11:

1.) New York Yankees - They are back in the top spot, but they need to stay hot for the rest of the year to stay there. Their schedule may help that.

2.) Tampa Bay Rays – They are back in gear and only a half game back. They have a big series against Texas next week.

3.) Texas Rangers – They are now playing for playoff position and momentum.

4.) Minnesota Twins– They beat the division rivals, and that is how you make the playoffs.

5.) Chicago White Sox – Boston is a better team record wise, but the White Sox were so hot, they aren’t the better team right now. The White Sox will need to beat the Twins, however.

Rays back on top; White Sox moving up

AL CENTRAL

The one thing that can get in the way of winning streaks is facing another team on an even hotter streak. The Minnesota Twins hit a roadblock against the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Chicago White Sox took advantage of it.

The White Sox are also in a big series at Detroit and are looking to bury the Tigers even further behind and make it a two-team race. The White Sox have to play better within the division, and they will have a big series with the Twins next week.

With two months to go, every series is more important than the last.

AL EAST

The Tampa Bay Rays are the new super power, but they will lose it and gain it and lose it and gain it for the rest of the year. I propose a truce and say the Rays and the New York Yankees are tied for the number one spot in the league.

The problem is the second place finisher will have 100 wins and be on the road for most of the playoffs. It is an interesting situation. So for now, the Rays are the top team.

The Red Sox may finish with the third best record in baseball and still miss the playoffs.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers are the team in the West. The Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics don’t have the weapons to compete with the newly revamped Rangers.

The trades at the deadline were huge, and they will be a force in the playoffs. Barring a screw up of epic proportions due to distractions from the team’s sale, the Rangers should easily jog to the division title.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS August 4:

1.) Tampa Bay Rays - The Rays have grabbed the No. 1 spot with nine wins in ten games.

2.) New York Yankees – They not only lost to the Rays on the weekend, but they have fallen out of first with losses to Toronto.

3.) Texas Rangers – They can only beat themselves now..

4.) Chicago White Sox– The White Sox are suddenly only a game behind the Rangers for the second best divisional leader record.

5.) Boston Red Sox – They are six and a half games back of two teams close to 70 wins. They are in or tied for first in any other division, except the National League West.

The best keep getting better

AL CENTRAL

The Minnesota Twins are back on track to battle for the division lead. They are one game back, and they gained two games on the White Sox. When you play the Kansas City Royals it helps.

The White Sox had a little trouble in Oakland, but they bounced back against the lowly Seattle Mariners. Detroit, on the other hand, had some trouble in Toronto and Tampa Bay.

The key is going to be how teams handle their weaknesses. Detroit better find a way soon, because they have a brutal stretch right now with the Rays and the Boston Red Sox.

AL EAST

The story of the East Division was the Matt Garza no-hitter. The New York Yankees keep winning, but the Rays are looking better and better. The result is the two best teams in the major leagues are making the Boston Red Sox look terrible.

At seven games back, the Red Sox better do something to solve their problems above them. The Rays and Yankees are on pace to win 100 games, and the Red Sox may miss out on the postseason with 92-92 wins.

The Red Sox can start with taking care of business against Detroit and Cleveland. The Yankees have to travel to Tampa Bay this weekend, and the Red Sox can gain a few games on both.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers are moving closer and closer to the time they should start thinking about challenging for a pennant, and they may have begun with the rumors about acquiring Jorge Cantu.

The lineup can get better? Really? The defense can get better? Really? The answer is yes to all the questions. The Rangers are building too big a lead, and the rest of the division doesn’t have the tools to challenge them.

In the playoffs, the Rangers have Cliff Lee, a Yankee killer, and they may have the second best lineup to the Yankees. If the Rangers continue to win like they have, the playoffs may be the best anyone has ever seen. If the season ended today, the Rangers would face the Rays.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS July 13:

1.) New York Yankees - It is close with the Rays, and the heavyweight championship is this weekend in Tampa Bay.

2.) Tampa Bay Rays – The Rays get a shot at the No. 1 seed, and they get the home-field advantage.

3.) Texas Rangers – If the rumors about Jorge Cantu are real, the division is locked up.

4.) Chicago White Sox– The Twins are closer than they appear. The White Sox need to beat the .500 teams like Oakland.

5.) Boston Red Sox – The problem for the Red Sox is that they have two teams on pace for 100 wins ahead of them.

White Sox and Red Sox surging towards first

AL CENTRAL

The Central division has suddenly become a race with three teams within 1½ games of first place. The Chicago White Sox are in third at the moment, but the team ERA has been 2.56 since being 9½ games back on June 9.

It will be anyone’s division with the White Sox playing the Detroit Tigers 14 more times and the Minnesota Twins 13 more times. Plus, the Tigers and Twins play 10 more times, including finishing up a three game set tonight in a rubber match.

The Tigers are 8-6 since June 15, and they have allowed 75 runs. The Twins are 6-8 in that same stretch, and they have allowed 71 runs. The White Sox are 12-2 during that stretch, and they have only allowed 38 runs.

AL EAST

What happened to the Tampa Bay Rays? They were the best team in baseball by six games. They had an ERA under three. They scored the most runs. They had a five game lead on the Yankees.

Now, they have the best ERA in the American League, and they are fourth in runs scored. Wait … How can they now be three games back and losers of seven of the last 10 games?

One reason, two of the three teams ahead of them in runs scored are the Yankees and Boston Red Sox, the first favorite to pull a winning streak off. Second, the Rays have lost by three runs or fewer in eight of the last nine losses.

AL WEST

The Texas Rangers joined the White Sox with an amazing winning streak, and they moved 3½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels. But the West division always has a catch.

The only other team that can win the division is the Angels, and they are not losing, because the Rangers only gained four games in an 11 game win streak. 7-4 is not a bad record to have in 11 games.

The series in Los Angeles this week should be an indicator of things to come. The Angels have already taken the first game, and a series win could put a damper on the Ranger celebration. However, the hitting and pitching has been there for both teams, but Texas has been hitting better.

TOP FIVE AL TEAMS June 7:

1.) New York Yankees - The Yankees are winning, and the teams behind them have injuries and bad luck.

2.) Boston Red Sox – They have scored the second most runs, but the Dustin Pedroia injury will hurt them.

3.) Texas Rangers – The 11 game winning streak was well deserved. They hit and, yes, they also pitch.

4.) Tampa Bay Rays – The slump continues, and they still have the best ERA and score the fourth most runs in the American League.

5.) Minnesota Twins – Struggling, and they may actually be dethroned by the Tigers or, dare I say, the White Sox.