10 Answers for the Final Two Months of the MLB Season

Now that baseball’s trading deadline has come and gone, it’s time to turn our attention away from the corporate offices of the GMs and back onto the field, where the games are won and lost. Lucky for us, the final two months of the 2006 season are shaping up to look a lot like Oprah’s waistline: strangely compelling and completely unpredictable.

Channeling Alex Trebec, I decided to put my own spin on the typical “Questions for the Second Half” piece that you’ll see on most sports websites by giving you the answers instead of the questions. Perhaps it’s a little gimmicky, but if baseball has taught anything, it’s that gimmicks such as bobble heads and rally monkeys are as much a part of baseball as leaded coffee and Vitamin B. So in no particular order, here are 10 answers to ponder as we head into the final two months of the baseball season.

Answer #1 - I’d never thought I’d see the day, but yes.

The question: Can the Tigers finish the season with the best record in baseball?

Oh how the times have changed. Three years ago Jim Leyland was an unemployed AARP member, Pudge Rodriguez was built like a brick house, and the Tigers lost an A.L. record 119 games. Fast forward 36 months and now Leyland is the frontrunner to win Manager of the Year, Pudge looks like a malnourished Abercrombie & Fitch model, and the Tigers have the best record in baseball by more than a few games. Will the team stay hot and earn their first playoff birth since 1987? History says “yes”. Since the wild card was adopted in 1995, no team with the best record in baseball at the all-star break has failed to make the playoffs.

On a side note, why do we use the term “adopted” when we talk about rule changes being made in sports? For instance, “the NFL adopted instant replay in 1999” or “the NHL adopted the USA vs. The World format for their All-Star game in 1998”. Who started this trend? Whenever I hear the term “adopted” being used in the sports context I always picture this orphanage somewhere on the outskirts of Passaic, New Jersey where sports ideas grow up without parents. In fact, right now I’m picturing “little orphan 8-team playoff” sitting by the window waiting for “Daddy BCS Warbucks” to swoop in and make her a part of his ridiculous bowl system family. There I go daydreaming again.

Answer #2 - The Twins and the Yankees.

The question: Which AL contenders will be left on the outside looking in when the playoffs start?

Here’s what I believe. I believe that the Tigers’ pitching really is that good, and they will ride those arms to victory in the AL Central. I believe that the Red Sox will finish a few games better than the Yankees for the first time since 1995, winning the AL East. I believe that the White Sox will right the ship and run away with the AL Wild Card, leaving the Twins and the Yankees with some afternoon tee times on October 2nd. I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way.

Answer #3 - Absolutely, and it’s about time.

The question: Are we finally witnessing the demise of the Atlanta Braves?

Before we bid them adieu, let’s not brush aside the incredible run they’ve had. Not since the Ming Dynasty have we seen this type of domination. 14 straight years of division titles. 14 years! Think about this: College-age Braves fans can’t even remember a time when their team finished anything other than first in the NL East. It’s lesson number one on how to spoil a fan base, and thankfully it’s about to change.

One thing that won’t change, however, is that Atlanta’s ballpark won’t be sold out for any games in October. It didn’t happen when the Braves actually made the playoffs and it won’t happen this October when the Braves are teeing up their Titleists and wondering if they should hit driver or 3-Wood.

Answer #4 - If Big Papi stays this hot, you bet.

The question: Will a DH win the American League MVP Award?

Last year David Ortiz was edged out by Yankees Third Baseman Alex Rodriguez for AL MVP, despite having comparable offensive numbers. This year, his stats (34 HRs and 95 RBIs through July 27) could be so beyond those of his peers, that MVP voters might be forced to overlook the fact that he participates in only a handful of plays each game as a designated hitter.

While most veteran baseball writers would rather eat an HGH-laced brownie than vote for a DH as the AL MVP, a 60-HR, 170-RBI season would leave them no choice.

Answer #5 - “The Marine Biologist”

The question: What is my favorite all-time Seinfeld Episode?

What does this have to do with baseball? Nothing really. I just felt like giving props to my favorite TV character of all time, George Costanza. The monologue he delivers in the diner at the end of that episode is, without question, his magnum opus. “The sea was angry that day my friends, like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli.”

Answer #6 - About the same as Kevin Federline and Justin Timberlake collaborating on a hit single called “Speared”.

The question: What are the chances that a team other than the Mets or Cardinals will represent the National League in the World Series?

Like a lot of other people in the know, I like San Diego to come out of the NL West because I think their pitching will hold up for them down the stretch. Having said that, John Daly wouldn’t put money on their lineup coming out of back to back series’ with the Cards and Mets.

As for the NL Wild Card, picking a winner at this point is like trying to predict the weather in Boston a month in advance. Good Luck. If forced to hitch my cart to a horse, I would take the Reds, because I think they can out hit anyone else in the wild card hunt and they now have a bullpen capable of holding leads.

One last note on the Mets. While they are widely regarded as the Senior Circuit’s best team, and rightfully so, let’s not pretend they are without flaws. After Pedro and Glavine, who are the Mets planning on sending out as their Game 3 starter in the playoffs? Steve Trachsel? El Duque? Those two have a combined ERA of over 10.00 and a combined age of over 70. Not exactly numbers that are going to strike fear into the hearts of opposing lineups.

Answer #7 - I think it’s the second stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.

The question: What are your thoughts on having the All Star game winner determine home field in the World Series?

You’ve heard this argument hashed out a hundred times already, so I won’t bore you with it. The baseball season is a 162-game grind, and it should mean as much as possible. All-Star game participants will play just as hard for pride and ego as they will for home field. Best record should get home field, end of story.

As far as the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen is concerned, it’s the televised World Series of Darts. The only way to make this “sport” remotely watchable would be to have WWE-style costumes and nicknames for the competitors, audible trash-talking and moving targets. As it is right now, it has replaced the WNBA as the least watch-able sport on TV.

Answer #8 - Not a chance.

The question: Will Yankees fans finally leave A-Rod alone?

Here’s my theory on all of this. The turning point was back in April of 2004 when Derek Jeter went through a career-worst 0 for 32 slump. Near the end of his batting funk he was getting booed mercilessly by the very fans who he had just won 4 World Series Championships for over the past 8 years. It was the ultimate “what have you done for me lately” moment, and I think that even Yankee fans were disgusted with themselves once they had time to look back on it. I believe that is when Yankee fans, as a whole, decided that they would never again take out their frustrations on Captain Jeter. They simply shifted their boos about 25 feet away in the direction of third base.

If you think about it, A-Rod is the perfect punching bag for Yankees fans. “You weren’t developed in our system like Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, or Bernie Williams” - Smack! “You are the highest paid player in baseball history” - Smack! “You’re a good-looking guy with lots of money” - Smack! “We haven’t won any championships since you got here” - Smack! “You purse your lips and make that silly face whenever you strike out in a big spot” - Smack!

Regardless of the numbers that A-Rod puts up, it’s guilt-free booing for Yankees fans, and that’s why it won’t stop.

Answer #9 - Too early to tell, but the numbers are jaw dropping.

The question: Will this turn out to be the best rookie pitching class of all time?

We won’t know the answer to this one until years down the road, but take a look at the numbers of these first-year hurlers with 9 weeks left in the season.

Francisco Liriano (12-2, 125 Ks, 1.93 ERA)
Justin Verlander (13-4, 88 Ks, 2.69 ERA)
Jered Weaver (7-0, 40 Ks, 1.15 ERA)
Jonathan Papelbon (29 Saves, 52 Ks, 9 BBs, 0.53 ERA)

Throw in Scott Olsen (9-4, 3.79) and Jon Lester (5-0, 3.04) to round out your rotation with Joel Zumaya (5-1, 2.31) as your setup man and you’ve got yourself one heck of a staff.

If Liriano, Verlander, and Papelbon keep on their torrid paces you can forget about small change like Rookie of the Year honors, these guys will be fighting for the American League Cy Young and MVP Awards come September.

Answer #10 - No. Unless of course you mean jail, in which case, maybe.

The question: Is Barry Bonds ever going to go away?

While I have no idea what will happen with the Federal Grand Jury’s investigation, my guess is that, like it or not, we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg with the Jason Grimsley story and tales of HGH use in the Major Leagues. If indictments and leaked names are on the horizon, this story might become bigger than anything we’ve seen to date. Even bigger than Barry’s fitted-hat size.

Barry will probably end up in the American League next year, either playing across the bay in Oakland or with his old skipper in Detroit. He’ll probably hit 25 home runs. He’ll probably go on the disabled list a few times. He’ll probably get indicted by a federal grand jury for perjury. You know, typical stuff for today’s baseball player.

Well, I’m all out of answers so I guess that wraps this up. Besides, the World Series of Coin Flipping is on in 10 minutes and I need to go set the TiVo.