American League Review

On the season’s final day, the 30 to 1 underdog Oakland Athletics overcame an early (5-1) deficit and went on to a (12-5) win over the Texas Rangers to capture the AL West crown. It is the 15th divisional title for the A’s, eight being “one quarter” titles. This is the 6th of the “one eighth” variety while another was won in a strike marred extra round of playoffs in 1981. Beware of the A’s in years ending in “2” of late as they won divisional titles in 1972, 1992, 2002 and now 2012. They will face the Detroit Tigers in a best of five division series beginning in Detroit on Saturday. On their way to the first of three straight World Series wins, the A’s defeated the Tigers in a great five game, best of five ALCS in 1972. Oakland then captured the franchise’s first title since 1930 when they were the Philadelphia A’s and managed by Connie Mack. The Tigers swept the A’s in four straight in the 2006 ALCS but bowed to the St.Louis Cardinals in the World Series.

Only one American League franchise has more titles than the A’s and of course that is the New York Yankees. The Yankees won their 13th “one eighth” division title in 17 seasons when they completed a sweep of the Boston Red Sox and actually finished two games ahead of the 100 to 1 underdog Baltimore Orioles, who lost two of three games in Tampa vs the Rays. The Yankees are the AL one seed and await the winner of the Baltimore at Texas “play in” game. That game’s winner will host the Yankees in the best of five divisional series beginning on Sunday.

So the favored Yankees, longshot A’s, and heavily favored Tigers won divisional titles. Meanwhile the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles gained wild card spots. The Angels and Rays had too many slumps and lost out to teams that were not as highly regarded. Both Mike Scioscia and Joe Maddon are good managers but also vastly overrated ones. Scioscia was the manager and Maddon served as bench coach when the Angels won it all in 2002. Since then but 2 ALCS appearances, both losses to the eventual World Champions with the Angels winning but three games in the two series.