pennantracebaseball.com

TRADE DEADLINE:

Generally speaking I don’t like trades this time of the year.  Trades between weak and strong teams are by their very nature bad for the weaker team and good for the stronger one.  This affects a teams ability to act as a spoiler in the pennant race, and puts added distance between teams at the top, decimating good pennant races. 

 Teams should always be looking toward building for the future, and while a given player may not help you win a championship  this year, he might in the years to come.  Tiers would add something to team building, as finishing in the 1st Tier is a good intermediary goal before making it to the top.

Finally, with all the talk of the need to increase attendance, how can a team attract and retain fans when they are constantly trading off their best players?  There needs to be a salary floor; and the lesser team needs to spend revenuing sharing and luxury tax money on player development and  acquisition.

Yesterday’s Results:

TB  3  NY  2 (East);  TOR  8  CLE  1 (East);  DET  6  BOS  5 (East);  CHI  6  OAK  1 (West);  MIN  5  SEA  3 (West);  KC  7  BAL  5 (East);  LA  9  TEX  7 (West)

ARI  9  NY  6 (2nd Tier);  WAS  8  PHI  1 (East);  ATL  6  CIN  4 (East);  COL  17  CHI  2 (West);  SF  6  LA  5 (West);    HOU  5  MIL  0 (Not Tier Schedule);  STL  1  PIT  0 (10) (Not Tier);  FLA  4  SD  2 (NT)

East                              W      L        GB

1. Tampa Bay        44    21       —
2. New York          42    24          2.5
3. Toronto              36   30          8.5
4. Boston                 38   32          8.5
5. Kansas City        22   23        12 
6. Detroit                 23   27        13.5
7. Cleveland           24   31         15
8. Baltimore           15   49         28.5

West                               W     L          GB

1. Minnesota           24    17        —
2. Texas                     30   24           .5
3. Oakland                 26   24        2.5
4. Chicago                  26  25        3
5. Los Angeles         30  34        5.5
6. Seattle                    18   36      12.5

East                                    W     L        GB

1. Atlanta                     34    28      —
2. Cincinnati               31    27         1
3. Philadelphia          32    31          2.5
4. Florida                     33    33         3
5. Washington            33    33        3
6. New York                27    34        6.5
7. Houston                  19     27        7
8. Pittsburgh              15     31       11

West                                    W      L        GB

1. San Diego                 40    25       —
2. Los Angeles            38    27          2
3. San Francisco        33    26          4
4. St. Louis                   30    25          5
5. Colorado                  34    32          6.5
6. Chicago                     29    28          7
7. Milwaukee               27    27          7.5
8. Arizona                     23    45         18.5

BEST OF THE PENNANT RACE LEAGUE:

This weekend’s best series is undoubtedly New York at Tampa Bay and Atlanta at Cincinnati.  New York is 1 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay; and Atlanta and Cincinnati are tied for first.

AROUND THE WILD CARD LEAGUE: 

The two pennant race series mentioned above shows the superiority of  pennant races over wild card baseball. 

 In the case of Atlanta at Cincinnati, if the divisions had not been strengthen by combining 3 into 2,  this would be a much weaker wild card series. Win a pennant and you become 1 of 4 teams to move on.  Win a wild card and you become 1 of 8.

It looks like between New York and Tampa Bay, one will win the East, while the other the wild card.  How important can this series be , when the only thing they’re playing for is home field advantage.  (To show how unimportant it is, the commissioner has given homefield advantage in the World Series to the irrelevant winner of the All-Star Game.  If it were otherwise, he’d have had an uproar among team owners!)  Compare that  to the excitement and intensity of pennant races, where the winner goes on and the loser goes home.

Yesterday’s Results:

NY  11  CLE  4 (East);  TB   4  DET  2 (East);  TEX  7  OAK  4 (West);  BAL  6  KC  5 (11) (East);  CHI  9  SEA  5 (West)

WAS  5  ATL  3 (East);  SD  3  LA  2 (West);    NY  4  STL  3 (Not Tier);  COL  9  PIT  3 (NT);  FLA  5  SF  O (Not Tier Schedule);  PHI  3  ARI  2 (11) (NT)

East                              W      L          GB

1. Tampa Bay        43    21         —
2. New York           42   23           1.5
3. Boston                 38   31           7.5
4. Toronto              35   30           8.5
5. Kansas City       21    23          12
6. Detroit                22   27          13.5
7. Cleveland          24   30          14
8. Baltimore          15   48           27.5

West                              W    L             GB

1. Texas                   30   23          —
2. Minnesota         23   17              .5
3. Oakland              26   23             2
4. Chicago              25   25             3.5
5. Los Angeles      29   34            6
6. Seattle                 18   35           12

West                               W     L            GB

1. Cincinnati             31   26          —
2. Atlanta                   33   28          —
3. Philadelphia        32   30             1.5
4. Florida                   33   33             2.5
5. Washingvton       32   33             3
6. New York             27   33             5.5
7. Houston                19   27            6.5
8. Pittsburgh            15   31           10.5

West                                       W    L             GB

1. San Diego                40  25           —
2. Los Angeles           38   26             1.5
3. San Francisco       32   26             4.5
4. St. Louis                  30   25            5
5. Chicago                   29    27           6.5
6. Colorado                 33   32            7
7. Milwaukee              27   27           7.5
8. Arizona                    22   45          19

Yesterday’s Results:

NY  8  CLE  0 (East);  BOS  7  LA  3 (1st Tier);  TOR  5  BAL  0 (East);  TB  7  DET  1 (East);  OAK  3  TEX  1 (West);  CHI  6  SEA  5 (West) MIN  6  KC  4 (Not Tier)

ATL  3  WAS  1 (East);  SF  10  FLA  9 (10) (1st Tier);  SD  6  LAD  1 (West);  HOU  8  CHC  1 (Not Tier Schedule); STL  8  NYM  7 (10) (NT);   CIN  10  MIL  2 (NT);  PHI  7  ARI  1 (NT);  PIT  6  LA  1 (NT)

East                             W      L        GB

1. Tampa Bay       42    21       —
2. New York         41     23        1.5
3. Boston               38     31        7
4. Toronto            35     30        8
5. Kansas City     21      22       11
6. Detroit              22     26        12.5
7. Cleveland         24    29        13
8. Baltimore         14     48       27.5

West                              W       L        GB

1. Minnesota           23    17       —
2. Texas                     29    23       —
3. Oakland                26    22          1
4. Chicago                 24   25          3.5
5. Los Angeles         29   34          5.5
6. Seattle                    18   34        11

West                                 W      L          GB

1. Atlanta                   33    27         —
2. Cincinnati             31    26             .5
3. Philadelphia        32    30           2
4. Florida                   33   33            3
5. Washington         31    33            4
6. New York             27   33            6
7. Houston               19    27            7
8. Pittsburgh           15    31            11

West                                 W     L            GB

1. San Diego               39    25          —
2. Los Angeles           38   25             .5
3. San Francisco       32   26            4
4. St. Louis                  30   25           4.5
5. Chicago                   29   27            6
6. Colorado                33    32           6.5
7. Milwaukee             27   27           7
8. Arizona                   22   45          18.5

Around the Wild Card League:

Listening to the excellently played Oakland at Texas game, I heard the Oakland announcer say, “This is pennant race atmosphere here’”.  I thought to myself that in the pennant race league it is true, but in the wild card league, not so much. Texas could fall out of 1st place and still make it to the post-season as the wild card team.  This series, as played tonight, is not as exciting; not as intense as pennant race baseball.

Yesterday’s Results:

CLE  4  NY  1 (East);  TOR  8  BAL  2 (East);  TB   3  DET  2 (East);  CHI  11  SEA  0 (West);  TEX  3  OAK  1 (10) (West);  BOS  4  LA  2 (1st Tier);  MIN  11  KC  2 (Not Tier)

WAS  3  ATL  0 (East);   LA  2  SD  O (West);  SF  6  FLA  4 (1st T);  NY  8  STL  2 (NT);  PHI  9  ARI  5 (NT);  HOU  6  CHI  1 (Not Tier Schedule);  PIT  4  COL  2 (NT);  CIN  12  MIL  4 (NT)

East                              W      L          GB

1. Tampa Bay        41     21        —
2. New York          40    23          1.5
3. Boston                37    31          7
4. Toronto              34    30         8
5. Kansas City       21    22         10.5
6. Detroit                22   25          11.5
7. Cleveland           24  28          12
8. Baltimore           14  47          26.5

West                               W    L           GB

1. Texas                    29   22          —
2. Minnesota           23   17            .5
3. Oakland                25   22           2
4. Chicago                 23  25            4.5
5. Los Angeles         29  33            5.5
6. Seattle                   18   33          11

West                                 W     L         GB

1. Cincinnatti            31   26        —
2. Atlanta                   32   27        —
3. Philadelphia         32  30           1.5
4. Florida                    33  32          2
5. Washington           31   32         3
6. New York               27  33          5.5
7. Houston                  19  27          6.5
8. Pittsburgh              15  31        10.5

West                                    W    L         GB

1. Los Angeles             38   24       —
2. San Diego                 38   25           .5
3. St.Louis                      30   25      4.5
4. San Francisco          31   26      4.5
5. Chicago                       29   27     6
6. Colorado                    33   32      6.5
7. Milwaukee                 27   27     7
8. Arizona                       22   45    18.5

Around the Wild Card League:

Don’t tell me that there are still pennant races of  import in the wild card league.  In the middle of a time when pennant races should be heating up, the wild card league is playing almost 50% (7 of 15 series) for the privilege of winning the all-important wild card.

Best Series:

Oakland at Texas is a match between contenders for the same pennant.  Los Angeles at San Diego is a series between two teams within 1/2 games of each other.  Florida at San Francisco  is another example of how the Tier competition takes a weak wild card series and turns it into games that will impact on two pennant races.

Yesterday’s Results:

NY  3  CLE  2 (East);  TOR  9  BAL  5 (East);  TB  5  DET  0 (East);  CHI  6  SEA  1 (West);  BOS  6  LA  3 (1st Tier);  MIN  19  KC  1 (Not Tier)

FLA  4  SF  3 (1st T); CIN  3  MIL  2 (NT);  PHI  5  COL  4 (Not Tier Schedule);  CHI  5  HOU  2 (NTS)

East                             W      L          GB

1. Tampa Bay        40    21         —
2. New York           40   22            .5
3. Boston                 36    31           7
4. Toronto              33    30           8
5. Kansas City        21    22         10
6. Detroit                 22    24         10.5
7. Cleveland           23    28          12
8. Baltimore           14    46          25.5

West                              W      L            GB

1. Minnesota           23     17          —
2. Texas                     28     22          —
3. Oakland                25     21              1
4. Chicago                22     25              4.5
5. Los Angeles        29     32             4.5
6. Seattle                   18     32           10

West                                 W       L            GB

1. Atlanta                    32      26          —
2. Cincinnati              31       26             .5
3. Philadelphia         32       30            2
4. Florida                   33        31            2
5. Washington           30       32           4
6. New York               27       33           6
7. Houston                  19       27           7
8. Pittsburgh              15       31          11

West                                   W         L           GB

1. San Diego                 38       24          —
2. Los Angeles            37       24             .5
3. St. Louis                   30       25           4.5
4. San Francisco        30       26           5
5. Chicago                     29        27          6
6. Colorado                   33       32            6.5
7. Milwaukee                27       27           7
8. Arizona                      22       45          18.5

Yesterday’s Results:

NY  12  KC  6 (East);  TB  4  CLE  2 (East);  TOR  5  DET  3 (East);  DET  6  TOR  5 (—);  OAK  6  CHI  4 (West);  TEX  6  LA  4 (West);    MIN  10  BAL  4 (Not Tier);  SEA  4  BOS  2 (NT)

FLA  5  ATL  4 (11) (East);  SD  6  PIT  3 (2nd Tier);  HOU  4  CIN  0 (East);  MIL  8  WAS  3 (2nd T);  PHI  4  COL  3 (1st Tier);  SF  3  ARI  2 (10) (West);  STL  4  CHI  3 (11) (West);  LA  1  NY  O (NT)

East                              W     L          GB

1. Tampa Bay        39   21         —
2. New York           39  22            .5
3. Boston                 35  31           7
4. Toronto              32  30          8
5. Detroit                22  23           9.5
6. Kansas City       21  22           9.5
7. Cleveland          23  27         11
8. Baltimore          14  45         24.5

West                              W    L           GB

1. Minnesota          23   17         —
2. Texas                    28   22         —
3. Oakland               25   21            1
4. Los Angeles       29   31            4
5. Chicago                21   25           5
6. Seattle                  18   31           9.5

East                              W      L          GB

1. Atlanta                32   26         —
2. Cincinnati          31    26           .5
3. Philadelphia     32    30          2
4. Florida                32   31           2.5
5. Washington       30  32           4
6. New York           27  33           6
7. Houston              19  27           7
8. Pittsburgh          15  31          11

West                               W    L           GB

1. San Diego             38   24         —
2. Los Angeles        37   24            .5
3. St. Louis               30   25          4.5
4. San Francisco    30   25          4.5
5. Chicago                 29   27          6
6. Colorado              33    32         6.5
7. Milwaukee           27    27        7
8. Arizona                 22    45       18.5

Yesterday’s Results:

KC  7  NY  4 (East);  OAK  10  CHI  2 (West);  TOR  3  DET  2 (East);  TB   6  CLE  3 (East);  LA  6  TEX  2 (West);  MIN  7  BAL  2 (Not Tier);  SEA  5  BOS  1 (NT)

CHI  6  STL  5 (West);  PHI  10  COL  2 (1st Tier);  CIN  7  HOU  0 (East); ATL  10  FLA  5 (East);  MIL  4  WAS  3 (2nd T);  SD  9  PIT  2 (2nd T)  SF  10  ARI  4 (West);   LA  3  NY  2 (13) (NT)

East                              W      L          GB

1. Tampa Bay        38   21          —
2. New York          38   22             .5
3. Boston                35   31           6.5
4. Toronto             31   29           7.5
5. Kansas City      21   21            8.5
6. Detroit               21   22            9
7. Cleveland         23   26          10
8. Baltimore         14   45          24

West                             W     L             GB

1. Minnesota         23    17           —
2. Texas                   27   22              .5
3. Oakland              24    21            1.5
4. Los Angeles      29    30           3.5
5. Chicago              21    24            4.5
6. Seattle                18    31             9.5

East                              W     L            GB

1. Atlanta               32    25          —
2. Cincinnati         31     25             .5
3. Philadelphia    31     30            3
4. Florida               31    31             3.5
5. Washington      30   31             4
6. New York          27   33             6.5
7. Houston             18   27             8
8. Pittsburgh         15   30            11

West                              W      L             GB

1. Los Angeles        37   24            —
2. San Diego             37   24            —
3. St. Louis               29    25              4.5
4. San Francisco    29    25              4.5
5. Chicago                 29   26              5
6. Colorado              33   31               5.5
7. Milwaukee           26   27              7
8. Arizona                 22   44            17.5

Yesterday’s Results:

NY  7  KC  1  (East);  CLE  3  TB  1 (7) (East);  TEX  1  LA  0 (West);  CHI  5  OAK  1 (West);   BAL  3  MIN  2 (Not Tier);   BOS  2  SEA  1 (NT);  TOR  @  DET ppd-rain

CHI  5  STL  0 (West);  PHI  6  COL  0 (1st Tier);  SD  5  PIT  3 (2nd Tier);  FLA  7  ATL  6 (East);  CIN  6  HOU  4 (East);  MIL  7  WAS  5 (2nd Tier);  SF  7  ARI  4 (West);  NY  6  LA  1 (NT)

East                              W      L          GB

1. New York          38     21        —
2. Tampa Bay        37    21           .5
3. Boston                35     31        6.5
4. Toronto             30     29        8
5. Detroit               21      21        8.5
6. Kansas City      20     21        9
7. Cleveland          23     25       9.5
8. Baltimore          14     45      24

West                              W       L       GB

1. Minnesota          23     17      —
2. Texas                    27    21       —
3. Oakland                23    21         2
4. Chicago                21    23         4
5. Los Angeles        28    30        4
6. Seattle                   18    31         9.5

East                                  W     L          GB

1. Atlanta                   31    25        —
2. Cincinnati             30   25            .5
3. Florida                   31   30          2.5
4. Washington         30   30          3
5. Philadelphia        30   30         3
6. New York             27   33         6
7. Houston               18    26         7
8. Pittsburgh           15    29       10

West                                 W     L        GB

1. Los Angeles           37   24      —
2. San Diego               36   24          .5
3. St. Louis                 29   24         4
4. San Francisco      28   25         5
5. Colorado                33   30        5
6. Chicago                   28   26        5.5
7. Milwaukee             25   27        7.5
8. Arizona                  22    43      17

Best Series:

Los Angeles at Texas and Atlanta at Florida  feature four teams in the pennant race competition.  In addition, Los Angeles is struggling to get into the 1st Tier; and Florida tries to keep their position in it.

Yesterday’s Results:

NY  10  KC  4 (East);  DET  5  TOR  2  (East);  TEX  3  LA  2 (West);  MIN  5  BAL  0 (Not Tier)

WAS  7  CIN  1 (East);  SF  3  ARI  0 (West);  LA  2  NY  0 (NT);  FLA  3  COL  2 (Not Tier Schedule);  ATL  8  SD  0  (NT);  PHI  2  STL  0 (11) (NTS);  MIL  3  PIT  2 (NTS)

East                              W      L           GB

1. Tampa Bay       37     20         —
2. New York          37    21             .5
3. Boston                35    31           6.5
4. Toronto             30    29           8
5. Kansas City      20    20           8.5
6. Detroit               21     21           8.5
7. Cleveland         22     25         10
8. Baltimore         14     45         24

West                            W       L           GB

1. MInnesota       23     17         —
2. Texas                  26    21             .5
3. Oakland             23     20         1.5
4. Los Angeles     28     29         3.5
5. Chicago             20    23          4.5
6. Seattle               18     31          9.5

East                              W      L           GB

1. Atlanta               31    24          —
2. Cincinnati         29    25            1,5
3. Washington      30   29            3
4. Florida               30   30            3.5
5. Philadelphia    29    30           4
6. New York          27   33           6.5
7. Houston             18   25           7
8. Pittsburgh         15   28         10

West                              W    L            GB

1. Los Angeles       37   24         —
2. San Diego            35  24            1
3. St. Louis              29   23           3.5
4. Colorado             33   29          4.5
5. San Francisco   27   25          5.5
6. Chicago                27  26          6
7. Milwaukee          24  27          8
8. Arizona                22  42        16.5

Yesterday’s Results:

NY  10  LA  6 (1st Tier);  TB  5  B AL  4 (East);  KC  5  TOR  2 (East);  DET  4  TEX  1 (1st T);  SEA  2  CHI  (11) (West);  MIN  6  CLE  0  (Not Tier);  OAK  6  BOS  4 (NT)

ARI  4  NY  3 (14) (2nd T);  FLA  5  COL  2  (1st T);  WAS  8  CIN  5 (East);  STL  5  PHI  1 (East);  LAD  2  SF  0 (West);  HOU  4  CHI  3 (12) (NTS);  PIT  15  MIL  3  (NTS);  SD  6  ATL  4 (12) 9 (NT)

East                              W      L          GB

1. Tampa Bay        37    20        —
2. New York          36     21           1
3. Boston                35     31           6.5
4. Toronto             30     28          7.5
5. Kansas City      20     19           8
6. Detroit               20     21           9
7. Cleveland          22     25        10
8. Baltimore          14     45         24

West                             W       L           GB

1. Minnesota         23      17         —
2. Texas                   25      21           1
3. Oakland               23      20          1.5
4. Los Angeles       28      28          3
5. Chicago               20     23           4.5
6. Seattle                 18      31           9.5

East                               W        L            GB

1. Atlanta                31      24           —
2. Cincinnati          29      24              1
3. Washington       29      29              3.5
4. Florida                30      30             3.5
5. Philadelphia     29      30             4
6. New York           27     33             6.5
7. Houston             18      25             7
8. Pittsburgh         15      28           10

West                             W       L             GB

1. Los Angeles        37    24            —
2. San Diego             35   24                1
3. St. Louis               29   23                3.5
4. Colorado              33   29               4.5
5. San Francisco     26   25               6
6. Chicago                 27   26               6
7. Milwaukee           24   27               8
8. Arizona                 22   41              16