With
the major league baseball season about at the halfway point, Greg and I thought
it would be appropriate to do our mid-season review. This review includes
analysis on each division, along with looking back to see how our preseason predictions
are fairing at this point. Below, we’ve also handed out our awards from the
first half in each league. Enjoy!
NOTE:
Actual standings are as of noon on Monday, July 8.
AL East:
Preseason
Standings:
Andrew:
Greg:
*Toronto
Blue Jays:
89-73 *Boston
Red Sox: 90-72
*Boston
Red Sox:
87-75 *Toronto
Blue Jays: 89-73
Tampa
Bay Rays:
85-77 Tampa
Bay Rays: 87-75
New
York Yankees:
80-82 Baltimore
Orioles: 83-79
Baltimore
Orioles:
69-93 New
York Yankees: 81-81
Actual
Standings:
|
54
|
36
|
.600
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
49
|
40
|
.551
|
4.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
49
|
40
|
.551
|
4.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48
|
40
|
.545
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43
|
45
|
.489
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clearly
we both thought Toronto would be better than they are, but they've had a rash
of injuries and underperformance. With roughly 80 games left, and being 10
games back, they are all but out of it now, unless they get extremely hot. The
biggest surprise, and best story really, is Chris Davis's huge year so far and
the Orioles continued success from last season. He’s getting a lot of help
though from many Baltimore players who are having terrific years.
AL Central:
Preseason Standings:
Andrew:
Greg:
*Detroit
Tigers:
95-67 *Detroit
Tigers: 94-68
Kansas
City Royals:
85-77 Cleveland
Indians: 88-74
Cleveland
Indians:
81-81 Chicago
White Sox: 83-79
Chicago
White Sox:
80-82 Kansas
City Royals: 80-82
Minnesota
Twins:
65-97 Minnesota
Twins: 77-85
Actual
Standings:
|
48
|
39
|
.552
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46
|
42
|
.523
|
2.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41
|
44
|
.482
|
6.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37
|
48
|
.435
|
10.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34
|
51
|
.400
|
13.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
biggest surprise in this division so far is the extreme decline of the White
Sox. They were nearly the division champions last season and they are in the
cellar, behind the Twins who are just abysmal. The Tigers will get to feast on
the Sox for nearly 20 games in the second half so I expect their lead in the
division to grow. We also will follow Miggy’s terrific year to see if he can
win the Triple Crown again.
AL West
Preseason
Standings:
Andrew:
Greg:
*Los
Angeles Angels:
100-62 *Los
Angeles Angels: 91-71
*Texas
Rangers:
88-74 *Texas
Rangers: 90-72
Seattle
Mariners: 79-83
Seattle Mariners: 85-77
Oakland
Athletics: 70-92
Oakland Athletics: 83-79
Houston
Astros: 62-100
Houston Astros: 63-99
Actual
Standings:
|
52
|
37
|
.584
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
51
|
37
|
.580
|
0.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43
|
45
|
.489
|
8.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39
|
49
|
.443
|
12.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32
|
57
|
.360
|
20.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another
division in which the most talented team is underperforming, and the least
talented is vastly over performing. Oakland is on pace to win 95 games this
season...who saw that coming? The Angels have played better of late, and are
still within shouting distance, but have to play much better the second half of
the season to have a chance. And then there are those Rangers, up there once
again…
AL Awards:
Mid-Season
MVP
Greg:
Chris Davis, 1B, Orioles.
.320
BA 33 HR 85 RBI
.395 OBP
Andrew:
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Tigers.
.364
BA 28 HR 90 RBI
.457 OBP
Mid-Season
Cy Young
Greg:
Hisashi Iwakuma, SP, Seattle Mariners
2.60
ERA 7-4 103 K
.88 WHIP
Andrew:
Max Scherzer, SP, Detroit Tigers
3.06
ERA 13-0 146 K
.95 WHIP
Mid-Season AL
Rookie of the Year
Greg:
J.B. Schuck, OF, LA Angels
.299
BA .345 OBP .725 OPS
Andrew:
Agree with Greg. Although no rookie in the AL is that great. The NL features
much better prospects.
Mid-Season AL
Manager of the Year
Greg:
John Farrell - Boston Red Sox
Andrew:
Bob Melvin – Oakland Athletics
NL East
Preseason
Standings:
Andrew:
Greg:
*Atlanta
Braves:
95-67 *Washington
Nationals: 99-63
*Washington
Nationals: 94-68 *Atlanta
Braves: 92-70
Philadelphia
Phillies:
82-80 Philadelphia
Phillies: 83-79
New
York Mets:
78-84 New
York Mets: 79-83
Miami
Marlins:
63-99 Miami
Marlins: 70-92
Actual
Standings:
|
50
|
38
|
.568
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46
|
42
|
.523
|
4.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43
|
46
|
.483
|
7.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37
|
48
|
.435
|
11.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32
|
55
|
.368
|
17.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
So
far, Andrew's Braves are playing very well. Their bullpen has the best ERA in
the majors, and their starting pitching has been adequate. Justin Upton got off
to a torrid start, but has cooled off significantly since then. The Nationals
have underachieved, but have played better of late. Domonic Brown has almost
singlehandedly carried the Phillies to a surprising record. And the Marlins
just might be the worst team in baseball.
NL Central
Preseason
Standings:
Andrew:
Greg:
*St.
Louis Cardinals:
87-75 *Cincinnati
Reds: 91-71
Cincinnati
Reds:
86-76 St.
Louis Cardinals: 87-75
Milwaukee
Brewers: 83-79 Milwaukee
Brewers: 85-77
Pittsburgh
Pirates: 77-85
Pittsburgh Pirates: 81-81
Chicago
Cubs:
70-92
Chicago Cubs: 78-84
Actual
Standings:
|
53
|
34
|
.609
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53
|
34
|
.609
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
38
|
.568
|
3.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38
|
48
|
.442
|
14.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35
|
52
|
.402
|
18.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great
story here with the Pirates almost assuredly clinching their first winning
season since 1992. The only question is: will they make the playoffs? It will
be a tight race between the Reds, redbirds, and Pirates. All three could likely
make the playoffs though filling both wildcard spots.
NL West
Preseason
Standings:
Andrew:
Greg:
*Los
Angeles Dodgers:
97-65 *San Francisco
Giants: 89-73
*San
Francisco Giants:
89-73 *Los
Angeles Dodgers: 88-74
Colorado
Rockies:
77-85 Arizona
Diamondbacks: 84-78
Arizona
Diamondbacks: 76-86 Colorado Rockies: 82-80
San
Diego Padres: 61-101
San Diego Padres: 76-86
Actual
Standings:
|
47
|
41
|
.534
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42
|
45
|
.483
|
4.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42
|
47
|
.472
|
5.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40
|
47
|
.460
|
6.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40
|
49
|
.449
|
7.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I
feel like a broken record... The Dodgers have climbed back into the thick of
things thanks to Yasiel Puig's historic start to his career, but have still
massively underachieved. Colorado started hot, but has lost 14 of their last 19
games. San Francisco has scuffled all year long, with their pitching being the
main culprit. And unlikely Arizona is leading the way. All the teams are still
relatively close though, so I look for it to be a close division race to the
last week of the season. Can somebody please just stand up?
NL Awards
NL
Mid-Season MVP
Greg:
Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
.409
BA .437 OBP 1.114OPS 8 HR
19 RBI
Andrew:
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
.310
BA 21 HR 74 RBI
.369 OBP 4.6 WAR (just for
Greg)
NL Mid-Season
CY Young
Greg:
Matt Harvey, SP, New York Mets
2.27
ERA 2.24 DIPS 141 K
Andrew:
I may have to agree with Greg here, although I like Kershaw, Wainwright, and
Corbin too.
NL
Mid-Season Rookie of the Year
Greg:
Patrick Corbin, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
2.40
ERA 3.41 DIPS 99 K
Andrew:
Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
.409
BA .437 OBP 1.114OPS 8 HR
19 RBI
Remember,
he’s only played in the last two months.
NL
Mid-Season Manager of the Year
Greg:
Clint Hurdle - Pittsburgh Pirates
Andrew:
Dido!
By:
The Sports Guys
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