{"id":733,"date":"2008-09-28T16:47:13","date_gmt":"2008-09-28T23:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/28\/climbing-the-ladder-with-the-american-league-92808\/"},"modified":"2008-09-28T16:47:13","modified_gmt":"2008-09-28T23:47:13","slug":"climbing-the-ladder-with-the-american-league-92808","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/28\/climbing-the-ladder-with-the-american-league-92808\/","title":{"rendered":"Climbing the Ladder with the American League 9\/28\/08"},"content":{"rendered":"

Playoff Predictions 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>\n97<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n66<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.599<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n—<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n6-4<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boston<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n94<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n67<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.584<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n2.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n5-5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL2<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New York<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n89<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n72<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.553<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n7.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n9-1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW2<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Toronto<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n86<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n76<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.531<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n11.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n5-5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Baltimore<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n68<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n93<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.422<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n28.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1-9<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL4<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Tampa Bay Rays (+103 Run Differential)
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Tampa Bay Rays will make their first post season appearance on Thursday October 2nd and are the first time other than the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees to win the American League East since 1997.\u00c2\u00a0 The Rays host face either the Minnesota Twins or the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the American League Division Series.\u00c2\u00a0 Tampa spent\u00c2\u00a0 111 days in first place this season, 91 more days in first than their previous 10 years. \u00c2\u00a0 The Rays became just the second Major League team, and the first American League team to finish in first following a streak of 10+ consecutive losing seasons.\u00c2\u00a0 The biggest question for the Rays heading into the playoffs is the health and effectiveness of their ace Scott Kazmir<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Kazmir started his season in May after recovering from an arm injury and finished the month with an impressive 1.22 ERA.\u00c2\u00a0 As the months went on, Kazmir’s ERA has slowly climbed month by month.\u00c2\u00a0 Kazmir finished June with at 2.28, July at 2.84, August at 3.13 and September at 3.49.\u00c2\u00a0 In the last two months of the season Kazmir made 11 starts making it past the 5th inning just 6 times.\u00c2\u00a0 Kazmir has also given up 4 home runs in two of his last three starts and the effects of a long season may be taking their toll on the young lefty.<\/p>\n

Tampa is 6-4 this season against the Chicago White Sox and 3-3 against the Minnesota Twins.\u00c2\u00a0 My prediction is Tampa over Chicago in 5 or Minnesota over Tampa in 4.<\/p>\n

Boston Red Sox (+150 Run Differential)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Boston Red Sox have a tough road ahead of them if they want to defend their World Series title.\u00c2\u00a0 With J.D. Drew <\/strong>and Mike Lowell\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>both questionable for the ALDS, the Red Sox will need to rely on the middle of their order to give their tremendous pitching the support they need to win.\u00c2\u00a0 Since August 1st, the Red Sox are 33-19, good enough for best in the American League during that time.\u00c2\u00a0 In the last 6 years, the Red Sox are the only defending World Series Champ’s to earn a post season spot the following year.<\/p>\n

Boston is just 1-8 this season against the Angels but with the current 5 game ALDS format it will be tough to match a 3 man rotation of Josh Beckett<\/strong>, Jon Lester, <\/strong>and Dice K Matsuzaka<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Strong pitching and defense is what has help Boston to a 6-0\u00c2\u00a0 lifetime against LA in ALDS games.\u00c2\u00a0 Boston in 4.<\/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
Minnesota<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n88<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n74<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.543<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n—<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n6-4<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chicago<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n87<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n74<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.540<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n0.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n3-7<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cleveland<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n81<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n81<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.500<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n7.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n6-4<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Detroit<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n75<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n87<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.463<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n13.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n7-3<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kansas City<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n74<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n87<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.460<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n13.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n3-7<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Minnesota Twins (+85 Run Differential)
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

After 6 months of games, the Twins and White Sox are still battling for the final American League playoff spot at the end of the season.\u00c2\u00a0 Minnesota leads the division by just a half game but Chicago has a chance to earn themselves a one game playoff if the can take Mondays make up game against the Detroit Tigers.\u00c2\u00a0 In the event of a White Sox win on Monday, Chicago would host a tie breaker game on Tuesday to determine the divisional title.<\/p>\n

Twins are 10-8 against the White Sox and will win tie breaker.\u00c2\u00a0 Twins over Rays in 4.<\/p>\n

Chicago White Sox (+75 Run Differential)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The division was in Chicago’s hands and they let it slip away.\u00c2\u00a0 Before their win earlier today, the White Sox had lost an astounding 5 games in a row, including a 3 game sweet to the Twins earlier in the week.\u00c2\u00a0 This is not the position any playoff team wants to be in.\u00c2\u00a0 The White Sox will pitch Freddy Garcia<\/strong> in their game on Monday against the Detroit Tigers.\u00c2\u00a0 Chicago is 11-6 against the Tigers this season but if Garcia isn’t sharp, the Tigers could really make them pay.<\/p>\n

Chicago beats Detroit but loses to Minnesota in tie breaker.\u00c2\u00a0 Ozzie Guillen<\/strong> has meltdown on national TV.<\/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>\n100<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n62<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.617<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n—<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n7-3<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Texas<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n79<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n83<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.488<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n21.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n4-6<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL1<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oaklandd<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n75<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n85<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.469<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n24.0<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n5-5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nL4<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seattle<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n60<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n101<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n.373<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n39.5<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n3-7<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nW2<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Los Angeles Angels (+68 Run Differential)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Angels finished their first ever 100 win season earlier today and will begin to prepare for their divisional series agaisnt a team that has become their play off nemesis, the Boston Red Sox. The Angels have not yet won a a ALDS game against Boston and will likely have the same results this time around.\u00c2\u00a0 With their young pitchers far surpassing career high’s in innings pitched, I can see Boston’s smart line up getting them out of the game early and taking the series in 4 games.\u00c2\u00a0 The Angels do have something they did not in the past and that’s Mark Teixeira<\/strong> and Tori Hunter<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 If the Angels don’t take at least one of the first two home games, it may be a short series for the Halos.
\nOther News and Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Boston Red Sox retired the number of Johnny Pesky <\/strong>before the beginning of their afternoon game today.\u00c2\u00a0 The\u00c2\u00a0 number 6 will forever be displayed between Joe Cronin’s <\/strong>#4 and Carl Yastrzemski’s <\/strong>#8 in Fenway’s right field.\u00c2\u00a0 Pesky, who has been with the franchise for 57 years, was an infielder, coach, manager, front office official, ad salesman, and television and radio announcer for the Red Sox.\u00c2\u00a0 A fitting honor for a person so deserving of it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Playoff Predictions 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-733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t