An introduction of sorts but lets look at the basics of....

Now I know that that really isn't much of a title, but as Baseball is halfway through August with September coming around the corner and teams really beginning to decide their fates, this is one of the best times of the years to be a Baseball fan. Trust me, down at the local park playing softball on the dusty field, you could really feel the heat today in Huntington. Take for example, the Texas Rangers. Texas could be considered this year's Tampa Bay Rays with how well they have stepped up in the American League West, currently only 4.5 out behind the 1st place LA of A Angles and virtually tied with the Boston Red Sox for the AL Wildcard right now. Every year, you could pick one surprise team that has shocked the nation and reached levels of National Stardom, and they've been able to do it with virtual no-namers with the exception of a few key players and some home grown talent through the minors.

Texas is doing it with the young talent that they've acquired from the Atlanta Braves farm system for Mark Teixeria such as Elvis Andrus. Now Andrus has an immense amount of talent and potential on the Major League level including his defensive skills and his eye for working the count. As a young hitter, playing with a veteran like Omar Visquel will do wonders for his career in the immense amount of knowledge that he can give to Elvis. Texas also manages to have a very respectable Starters ERA of 3.57, especially playing inside such a hitter park like the Ballpark in Arlington. Then you factor in the bullpen of recent call-up Neftali Feliz, who can reach triple digits along with CJ Wilson and closer Frank Francisco, Texas is a very dangerous team. Don't forget, this is a trend that has seen young and inspiring teams such as the Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers, and even the Chicago White Sox go all the way to the World Series.

Now I'll make no bones about it, my favorite sport is Baseball and my favorite team along with Mr. DeJoy is the New York Yankees. As great as the Yankees have been playing since the Allstar break, 23-6 (Not including today's game in the result in Seattle,) the Yankees are on track to win a total of 101 games. Now I know its early to even have teams locked in for Post Season Play in October but when you have a 3.5 game lead over the next closest team in all of Baseball for the Best Record in Baseball, most would say that the Yankees are locked in. Especially considering their huge 7.5 game lead over the Boston Red Sox at this moment in the AL East.

I think people knew the Yankees were bound to be good and even get back into serious baseball play, but not at this rate. When you look at the moves the Yankees have made, sure, you can take the easy way out and point to the three huge moves that the Yankees made in the off season to almost spend $500 Million dollars on three player in AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeria, but that would be the easy way out. The Yankees have succeeded thanks in large part to how well their Bullpen has performed since mid May.

Brian Bruney hasn't given up a run since the 1st day of August, Phil Coke ranks 9th in the AL this year in Holds with 14 and pitched 1.2 innings against Seattle and got 3 out of the 5 batters he faced via the strikeout, while not allowing a hit. Phil Hughes has been everything that the Yankees could have expected and even more with the way he's been lights out this year from his position in the Bullpen. In what was thought to be a big bust from last year's role as a starter, Phil has taken the responsibility and flew with flying colors in his role. Alfredo Aceves has locked it down with his excellence this year in another case of starter turned reliever and David Robertson came into a very crucial game yesterday and shut the door down on a possible Seattle comeback in the 6th by striking out the first 2 batters he saw in a Bases loaded situation after Sergio Mitre started to explode (not to mention, Robertson does lead all American League pitchers in K/9). You can point out to the contract year that Johnny Damon is having and realize that he is going to break his career high in home runs (24) thanks to the short porch in right field. Lets not forget the GM and the guys that Brian Cashman acquired in Eric Hinske and Jerry Hariston Jr. around the trade deadline and Super Sub, Nick Swisher (Who hit his 20th homerun in Seattle in the off season from Chicago) for mere means of cash and nobodies that have helped the Yankees out in major ways also with clutch hits here and there. I know its early and I don't want to jinx them, but the Yankees are without a doubt, one of the best, if not THE BEST team in baseball and that's the facts for now.

Just to give an update on the Wildcard Standings, with the win from the Mets, the Ultra Tight...Tighter than 2 sizes too small tight, NL Wildcard Race, Colorado leads the race by one game over San Fran and Florida.....those Marlins are fighting along with the Atlanta Braves only 2.5 games back and my NL Fan Favorite Chicago Cubs are just 3 games back. Not to mention that Milwaukee and their recent shakeup only sit 5.5 back of Colorado at 58-58.

In the AL, thanks to Texas taking 2 out of 3 from Boston in Texas, they now stand in the Wildcard lead ahead of Boston by only a half a game with Tampa lurking at just 3.5 games.

God, I love Baseball.

Till Next Time,
I'm Nick Malone

WCWP Sports