{"id":676,"date":"2008-09-08T09:50:33","date_gmt":"2008-09-08T16:50:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/08\/climbing-the-ladder-with-the-american-league-9808\/"},"modified":"2008-09-08T09:50:33","modified_gmt":"2008-09-08T16:50:33","slug":"climbing-the-ladder-with-the-american-league-9808","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/08\/climbing-the-ladder-with-the-american-league-9808\/","title":{"rendered":"Climbing the Ladder with the American League 9\/8\/08"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rays Swept on way to Fenway & Playoff Race Heats Up plus more in this week’s Climbing the Ladder with the American League. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
A.L. East<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nPCT.<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nGB<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL10<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nSTRK<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tampa Bay<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n85<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n56<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.603<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n—<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n5-5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL3<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boston<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n84<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n58<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.592<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n7-3<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Toronto<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n76<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n66<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.535<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n9.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n8-2<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW8<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New York<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n76<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n67<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.531<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n10.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n5-5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Baltimore<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n63<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n78<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.447<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n22.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1-9<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL8<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Tampa Bay Rays<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Tampa Bay Rays have dropped the first games of their 9 game, 10 day road trip.\u00c2\u00a0 Tampa leads the American League East by just a game and a half and will not travel to Boston to face the team who is gunning for their seat atop the American League East.\u00c2\u00a0 Tampa is a combined 6-15 in the parks they will be traveling to (4-5 Rogers Center, 0-6 Fenway, & 2-4 Yankee Stadium) this week and could watch their division lead slip from reach as the week goes on.<\/p>\n

Boston Red Sox<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Boston Red Sox’s fate rests in their own hands.\u00c2\u00a0 This week the Sox will throw Jon Lester, Dice-K, and\u00c2\u00a0 Josh Beckett against the Rays in hopes of finishing the series leading the division.\u00c2\u00a0 With Monday’s sell out, the Red Sox will set the consecutive home sellout record with 456 games.\u00c2\u00a0 Boston is a combined 269-159 over this stretch while batting .297, scoring 2,724 runs and belting 529 home runs.\u00c2\u00a0 Speaking of home runs, the next home run hit in the Majors will mark the 250,000 home run in MLB history since 1876.<\/p>\n

Toronto Blue Jays<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Toronto Blue Jays have run off a streak of 8 consecutive wins including a three game sweep of the American League East divisional leading Tampa Bay Rays.\u00c2\u00a0 When closer BJ Ryan<\/strong> surrendered a home run to Rocco Baldelli<\/strong> on Saturday night, it snapped a string of 49 consecutive innings with out allowing a home run.\u00c2\u00a0 Toronto has allowed the 2nd fewest home runs in the American League this season with 126 long balls. \u00c2\u00a0 Toronto moves onto to play the Chicago White Sox beginning Monday night.<\/p>\n

New York Yankees<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yankee starting pitcher Mike Mussina’s<\/strong> quest of finally winning 20 games in a season took a bit of a hit yesterday when Moose fell to 17-8 after allowing 4 earned runs over 6 innings against the Seattle Mariners.\u00c2\u00a0 Mussina still has 4 starts left this season with the last coming against the Boston Red Sox, who will likely have a playoff spot locked up and resting its players. \u00c2\u00a0 If Mussina manages to win 20 games, some believe it may solidify his chances of reaching the hall of fame.<\/p>\n

Baltimore Orioles<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Baltimore Orioles have lost lost 8 in a row and are just 1-9 over their last 10 games.\u00c2\u00a0 There doesnt seem to be any relief ahead for the O’s as Baltimore’s opponents for the remainder of the season are a combined 47 games over .500 with just the A’s and Indians under the .500 mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
A.L. Central<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nPCT.<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nGB<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL10<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nSTRK<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chicago<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n80<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n62<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.563<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n—<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n4-6<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minnesota<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n78<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n65<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.545<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n2.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n3-7<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL2<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cleveland<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n69<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n72<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.489<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n10.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n5-5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Detroit<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n69<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n74<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.483<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n11.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n5-5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW2<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kansas City<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n61<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n81<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.430<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n19.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n5-5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Chicago White Sox <\/strong><\/p>\n

Chicago is currently 48-23 at home this season, holding the 3rd best winning percentage at home behind the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays. Chicago has hit 26 home runs over their last 9 games at U.S. Cellular Field and has hit an extra base hit in 39 straight home games.\u00c2\u00a0 Chicago’s 127 home runs at home this season is the best in the Majors.<\/p>\n

Minnesota Twins<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Minnesota Twins have fallen out of first place in the Central and has seen the Wild Card slip from their reach.\u00c2\u00a0 The Twins will need to have a tremendous finish the the season to make the playoffs in 2008.\u00c2\u00a0 With the division race between with the White Sox being a lot closer than the Wild Card race with Boston, the Twins will need to keep it close until they face the White Sox on the 23-25th of September.<\/p>\n

Cleveland Indians<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cleveland Indians finally moved ahead of the Detroit Tigers this week and now lead the Detroit Tigers by a game in a half for the third spot in the Central.\u00c2\u00a0 Cleveland is really rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers to make the playoffs this year as a playoff birth by the Brew crew will grant Cleveland a player to be named later to complete the Sabathia deal.\u00c2\u00a0 The player to be named is said to have the talent to make the Majors and could come from a list of four players. Outfielder Michael Brantley <\/strong>and third baseman Taylor Green <\/strong>are the most talented players on the list.<\/p>\n

Detroit Tigers<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the Detroit Tigers having one of the most disappointing seasons in recent history, a major roster shake up could come after the season ends.\u00c2\u00a0 The Tigers roster is filled with very expensive players who have already begun to decline or are on the verge of doing so.\u00c2\u00a0 With a number of the Tigers arms either\u00c2\u00a0 leaving the team, not pitching well, or unable to do so because of injury, Detroit will need to do something drastic to make improvements.<\/p>\n

Kansas City Royals<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Kansas City Royals can not make up their mind if they want to try and win now or plan for the future.\u00c2\u00a0 It is unsmart for a team to sign players like Jose Guillen<\/strong> and Gil Meche <\/strong>when they could be saving the $91 million they spent to sign a free agent who can help them win 90 games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
A.L. West <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nPCT.<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nGB<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL10<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nSTRK<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Los Angeles <\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n86<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n56<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.606<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n—<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n6-4<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Texas<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n70<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n74<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.486<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n17.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n4-6<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oaklandd<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n65<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n77<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.458<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n21.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n5-5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW2<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seattle<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n56<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n86<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.394<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n30.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n6-4<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Los Angeles Angels<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Angels, who have had an uncharacteristically tough go at it over the last few weeks remain the best team in the American League by just one game over the Tampa Bay Rays.\u00c2\u00a0 The Angels have written up a long term plan for success and the proof of that speaks for itself.\u00c2\u00a0 Six of the seven Angel minor league affiliates qualified for the post season play and should provide the Major league club with not only a steady sting of quality players but also bargaining chips to ensure that LA remains a playoff team for may years to come.<\/p>\n

Texas Rangers<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is now more apparent than ever that Texas will need to be seriously involved in the acquisition of a few arms during the off season.\u00c2\u00a0 Texas has a tremendous offense but are seriously missing pitching and defense.\u00c2\u00a0 We’ve seen teams like the Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels have success with this good pitching and defense and the Rangers should take note.<\/p>\n

Oakland Athletics<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Oakland Athletics are just 14-35 since July 11th and have pretty much fallen off the face of the baseball planet.\u00c2\u00a0 Its hard to remember when the A’s held sole possession of first place for 7 days this season and 19 days tied for first.\u00c2\u00a0 Those days, along with many of the players who helped the A’s win, are long gone.<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blow up the Seattle Mariners! Or at least get rid of some of the players who can at least bring some young talent into the organization.\u00c2\u00a0 Seattle stated last week that they would not be in the running for any big free agent names and will instead, change its ways by laying the framework for a plan that can help the team thrive for years to come….In other words, the Mariners are rebuilding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rays Swept on way to Fenway & Playoff Race Heats Up plus more in this week’s Climbing the Ladder with the American League.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=676"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}