MLB At the Mid-Point …

The MLB regular season has reached the symbolic half-way mark as most players get a couple of days off while the All-Star festivities take place.  As players recharge their batteries and get ready for the stretch run of the division races, I’ll take a synoptic view of the playoff picture at this stage of evolution.  First in the American League:

• AL East:  The race there is tight; four teams are separated by only 5.5 games.  The Blue Jays are on top now but one bad losing streak could wipe out the chances for any of those four teams making the playoffs.  The Orioles are just out of it.
• AL Central:  The Tigers are dominant there; they lead the division by 11.5 games; they are the only team above .500.  The White Sox are on pace to lose “only” 109 games this year – – a marked improvement.
• AL West:  The Astros lead the Mariners by 5 games; everyone else is under .500.  The Angels’ stats are unusual; the team is only two games under .500 but their run differential is minus-62.

I am not confident that the Jays will win the AL East but with 6 teams qualifying for the playoffs, the Jays are in a good position to be in.  As it looks now, the AL playoff breakdown will be:

• Tigers from the Central
• Astros and Mariners from the West
• “Three teams” from the East.

The interesting focus on the AL should be on the AL East race and the Mariners’ run for a wild card slot in the West.

Now over in the National League:

• NL East:  The Phillies and the Mets are in a virtual dead-heat now while the rest of the division is irrelevant
• NL Central:  The Cubs lead the Brewers by a game with the Cards and Reds lurking about 5 games off the pace in the division race.  Only the Pirates are clearly out of it in the NL Central.
• NL West:  The Dodgers still have a comfortable lead in the division despite going 3-7 in their last 10 games.  The Padres and Giants are probably contending for a wild card entry into the playoffs while the D-Backs seem to be fading.  Not to lose sight of epic levels of ineptitude, the Rockies project to a final record of 37-125.

The real focus in the NL should be on the wildcard races.  Either the Phillies or the Mets will win the East, and the losers will battle for a wild card invitation.  The same situation applies in the Central with the Cubs and Brewers – – but in the Central other teams could make the wild card race interesting.  And in the West, after the Dodgers win the division, at least two and maybe three teams will scramble for a wild card entry.  Remember, there are only 3 wild card slots per league …

Moving on …  Two MLB players who will be on a break as the All-Star festivities take place have ominous names given their roles with their teams.  Here you have two relief pitchers – – guys who are asked to step in and “hold the fort” so to speak in the hopes that the team offense can score more runs than the opponents have when they enter the game.  Here are the names:

• Scott Blewett:  He is currently with the Orioles but has also been on the Braves’ and the Twins’ rosters in 2025.
• Aaron Bummer:  He is on the Braves’ roster meaning there was a time earlier this season when the Braves bullpen had a “Bummer” and a “Blewett” at the ready.  Not exactly a great vibe …

Next up …  The MLB All-Star Game has always been the least offensive spectacle as compared to other major sports in the US.  The MLB All-Star Game actually bears a resemblance to actual MLB games to a much greater extent than the NFL or NBA equivalents.  Having said that, I am picking up a sense that the MLB game may be on the decline.  Several players have opted out of participating.  That sentiment might blossom into a nonchalance about the game on the part of the participants and if it does, that would sink the MLB All-Star Game to the level of the other sports.

The NFL just threw in the towel on the Pro Bowl because it could not put on an entertaining event that resembled a real NFL game; now they play flag football.  The NBA All-Star Game is simply a travesty.  It would be a shame to see the MLB game evolve in that direction of irrelevance; I hope this year is not the beginning of a trend.

Finally, here is a perspective on the All-Star Game from former MLB manager Whitey Herzog:

“The only thing bad about winning the pennant is that you have to manage the All-Star Game the next year. I’d rather go fishing for three days.”

But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………