By ALEX HORTON
Staff Writer
—
There are about three weeks left in the 2014 baseball season and some of the best baseball of the season is being played right now. The hunt for October is red hot and the American League wild card race is going to be a fun one to watch. I am going to start with the American League this week and for all you National League fans out there, I will be reviewing the National League’s playoff race next week.
Let’s jump right into this, I have a lot to say, being that this is one of my favorite times of the year.
We will start off with the American League East, since that is just about all locked up by the Baltimore Orioles. They have a ten-and-a-half game lead over the second place Toronto Blue Jays, which just about guarantees them a playoff spot. That wasn’t hard to see coming, even with Crush Davis having a disappointing season and Nelson Cruz deciding to prove to everyone he doesn’t need steroids to hit thirty-nine dingers. Since the East has been just about decided, let’s talk about the interesting races in the A.L.
Let’s head out to the West where we have the two best teams in baseball battling it out since the All Star break: The Anaheim Angels and The Oakland A’s. Both are probably the two best teams in baseball on paper as well.
I think the Angels are going to win the West, mainly because of the eight game lead they have over the A’s, as well as an 8-2 record over their last ten games, and they are doing it without their STUD Garrett Richards. I emphasize the word stud for a reason, and that’s because the kid was exactly that all season, before it came to a screeching halt when he tore the patellar tendon in his left knee. Before that though, he posted a 2.61 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and a 13-4 record, which I have to say I am pretty impressed by. Their lineup is stacked, even with Hamilton’s struggles hitting wise all season. They still have Mike Trout, who will probably be the MVP, and you just can’t count out Albert Pujols, who hasn’t been like the Pujols of old, but he’s still being productive.
Now we move to Central with the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals. They are tied and I do believe it will come down to the wire. I know everyone is high on the Tigers and their three Cy Young Award winners in Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and David Price, but Verlander has been a bum since winning his Award and that’s a HUGE problem. This is especially so since the ace of the Royals, James Shields, has been pitching lights out all season long.
So, I believe the Royals will take the Central. The Tigers have the better ball club and on paper are just dominant with Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Ian Kinsler, and Torii Hunter in the middle of that order. But, the Royals have a certain swagger and they just keep winning despite having a young team.
In short, the Wild Card game is going to be played between the Athletics and the Tigers. Sorry to all you Robinson Cano fans, but King Felix and Robbie just aren’t enough to convince me. You have to remember the Tigers have Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez in the middle of a dangerous lineup, and even though Verlander hasn’t showed up all season, you still have to deal with Price and Scherzer.
That being said, I do think the Athletics will get over the hump this year and finally take down the Tigers, especially considering since Price joined the Tigers he’s 2-3 with a 4.09 ERA in seven starts. That will pit them against the Angels in an AL West showdown that will go five games. This will happen for the Orioles and Royals series as well, where the Royals’ swagger will carry them past the O’s. Unfortunately for the Royals’, they will take on the Athletics and that series will be well fought by both teams, but in the end the A’s will take it. Starting pitcher Jon Lester has the experience and the Athletics are just flat out a better team. That will make the Oakland Athletics the American League Champions. But that’s just my opinion. After all, it is October baseball, and anything can happen.
