For fans, baseball heaven is at hand this week
Posted: Monday, August 27, 2007 2:19 PM
A terrific week of baseball with major postseason ramifications is ahead as August draws to a close. If you have an out-of-market subscription to games -- either on television or online, you'll spend the next four days in baseball heaven.
Here's what's on tap in five huge series with playoff implications:
BREWERS AT CUBS: This is the last series of the season between these two NL Central rivals (don’t get me rolling on the schedule again!). These games have major importance for both teams, especially the Brewers, who are the hunters instead of the hunted for the first time this year. Milwaukee’s starting pitching has crumbled, and its bullpen can no longer carry the load. A quick fix is needed this week for a team that is an un-playoff-like 25-40 on the road.
DIAMONDBACKS AT PADRES: These two teams will play four games this week and a return three-game set in Phoenix next week. The Baby Backs have a chance to sew up a thoroughly unlikely division crown (I don’t think the Rockies or the Dodgers have a division-winning kick left), and the Padres can lengthen their wild-card edge. Right now, both Arizona and San Diego look like playoff teams.
TWINS AT INDIANS: Yes, the Twins are still breathing -- barely. They begin the final week in August trailing by five and a half games in the AL Central, but play six of their next 10 games against the Tribe. They also have six games left with the Tigers. A good week by the Twins could make the AL Central a three-team race.
ANGELS AT MARINERS: These two teams have seven games left against each other, and the Mariners are in the dual role of chasing the Angels in the AL West and holding off the Yankees for the wild card. This series will be a test for the Mariners. Can their free-swinging offense succeed against one of the best pitching staffs? Seattle will find out much about its postseason hopes this week.
RED SOX AT YANKEES: The Red Sox have a better winning percentage than the Yankees since the All-Star break, neutralizing the Yankees’ burst. Now, New York is about to face the reality of focusing on the wild card. Here’s the math on this last Monday in August: The Yankees trail the Red Sox in the AL East by seven and a half games with 32 games to play. The Yankees need to take five of their remaining six games from Boston to have any hope of winning the division. That seems unlikely so I say the Yankees will be keeping a close watch on the Angels-Mariners series and the wild-card implications that come with it.
Elsewhere around the majors:
My take on the Dodgers after watching them this weekend: a talented group of youngsters needs steerage, and the veterans are either running low on gas (Luis Gonzalez and Jeff Kent) or are MIA (Nomar Garciaparra). Garciaparra's injury is frustrating, a calf strain that has yet to be tested with running means he has no chance of being activated off the DL when eligible tomorrow. The Dodgers have done a slow fade at a time when they could most use Garciaparra.
Catcher Russell Martin has also faded since the All-Star break. His fade is a simple case of being overplayed. David Wells pitched five innings in his Dodgers' debut Sunday night and proclaimed, “I didn’t think I would do so well.” Someone stop the madness! A starting pitcher proud of lasting five innings!
Why steroids matter: Guillermo Mota's ERA while in Cleveland last year was 6.21 ERA. His ERA last season after joining the Mets: 1.00 ERA. This year after returning from a 50-game steroid suspension, Mota's ERA is 6.00.
And finally what must Roger Cedeno think? Carlos Delgado, mired in a 0-for-19 slump, received a standing ovation from Mets fans before a key Saturday at-bat. Delgado responded with a two-run single. Maybe Mets fans are learning…Cedeno, for part of his time in Flushing, was booed when he approached the on-deck circle, destroying any chance of his having success at the plate.
