American League Review

Even though the Tampa Bay Rays won 14 of 19 and allowed but 67 runs in 33 games at one point, it is still the New York Yankees leading the AL East by 4 games. Both the Rays (one half game ahead) and Baltimore Orioles (tied with the Oakland A’s ) are slightly ahead or tied in the race for one of the 2 wild card berths in the American League.

The Chicago White Sox, though considered co-favorites with the over rated Detroit Tigers, lead the AL Central by two and a half games. This past week, the White Sox swept a 3 game series at home from the Yankees for the first time in 21 years. Detroit is also very much in the middle of the wild card race, just a half game behind Baltimore and Oakland.

Out West, it is likely it will be the 2 time AL Champion Texas Rangers going virtually “wire to wire” to win a 3rd straight divisional title. Texas has a five and a half game lead. The Oakland A’s after a (4-2) week are as stated above, in the wild card scramble. I am not ready to count out the Los Angeles/Anaheim Angels but they are a disappointing nine and a half games behind Texas and 4 out in the wild card race that will be among at least 4 other teams with two spots available.