Batter Up July 3rd, 2005

As the 2005 season reaches its half way point this weekend let’s take a look at the division races.

The Angels are safely in command in the AL West. Vladimir Guerrero is heading towards a second consecutive MVP award. Bartolo Colon has been the horse of the Angels starting rotation. However, you can’t overlook the emergence of John Lackey who has stepped up big time for the Halos after righty Kelvim Escobar went on the shelf with elbow miseries.

Give Mike Scoscia one more veteran arm in his pen that he trusts late in the game and the Angels are the team to beat in the AL.

The A’s will continue to put pressure on Anaheim.

Click below for more! The biggest concern as the summer unfolds will be the amount of innings Dan Haren, Kirk Saarloos, and Joe Blanton will be asked to throw. The A’s could use one veteran starting pitcher for insurance just in case the young pitchers start to wear down in August.

Will the A’s make a trade?

If they are still riding high around the July 31st trade deadline, look for the team to add a power hitting veteran outfielder. The pitching staff brought the A’s back to respectability, but if they are going to make a serious run at the playoffs, then more power is a neccesity.

An occasional three run homer would be a nice break from the two walk, three single rallies we usually see at the Coliseum.

The Rangers pennant hopes went down the drain this week. Kenny Rogers’ assaultive behavior torpedoed what was left of the Rangers crumbling starting rotation.

The White Sox will ride pitchers Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, and Jon Garland to the title in the Central. Don’t buy world series tickets yet in the Windy City. Although the Sox have been crushing their division opponents in head to head competition, Ozzie Guillen’s team is only playing slightly above .500 ball against the rest of the league.

Cleveland is the team to watch during the second half. The Indians are hitting once again. With Center fielder Grady Sizemore, catcher Victor Martinez, and DH Travis Hafner pounding the ball, a solid starting rotation, and a steady bull pen, the Tribe can win the wild card.

Minnesota is going through growing pains with their young players. Key hitters first baseman Justin Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer will be stars in the league for years to come, but they are too green to carry the inconsistent Twins to the playoffs season.

The Red Sox hit the ball better than anyone in the league. The Sox need pitching. The Boston bull pen has been horrible all season. Who knows if closer Keith Foulke is healthy? If the Sox are going to win the East, they will need Curt Schilling to come back
100% healthy.

With Randy Johnson not winning, Carl Pavano looking like another free agent disaster in the Bronx, and Kevin Brown still not ready to pitch, the Yankees playoff chances are looking very vulnerable for the first time in years.

Baltimore can hit the old baseball, but they just don’t have the arms to stay in the lead.

The Orioles are looking for a top flight starting pitcher and a capable righthanded hitting outfielder. The Marlins are offering pitcher AJ Burnett and outfielder Juan Encarnacion to the Birds for reliever Jorge Julio and other talented youngsters from Baltimore’s minor league system.

Keep your eye on the Blue Jays. Toronto currently has the best record against its brethren in the AL East. With Cy Young favorite Roy Halladay leading the way the Blue Jays aren’t dead yet.

In the NL, the Cards are in good shape heading into the all star break. With pitcher Chris Carpenter having a dominant first half, St. Louis is playing the best ball in the league.

The Phillies pitching has gone south in a hurry. The team has folded on its own this year with clubhouse dissension once again an issue.

The Marlins can’t seem to get going. Jack McKeon looks like the next managerial candidate for the unemployment line.

Atlanta can’t win their 14th straight title can they? With Bobby Cox running the show you can never count them out.

Until someone steps up in the East and starts playing championship baseball the MLB owned Nationals are now the overwhelming favorites to win the division.

Will baseball let this happen? Why not, with every win the value of the soon to be sold franchise is rising and you now how the owners like money.

The Padres are banged up, but have the best team in the west. With half the starting team on the DL San Diego has had trouble putting away the rest of the division.

The Giants won’t go anywhere until their pitching woes are solved. LA is still in the mix especially if they pry Adam Dunn away from the Reds this month.

Arizona?

They should be happy with a .500 finish and not give away any of their top prospects for Tampa Bay closer Danys Baez.