Maine's MLB PT, June 20th.

[MaineDolFan]

It’s been a few weeks, sorry about that.  Let’s get right to this:

#1.  Boston Red Sox  46-29

Boston still carries MLB’s best home record at 28-7 and is creeping up on that all elusive .500 mark on road trips after taking 2 out of 3 in Cinci and 2-3 in Philly.  Interleague play continues this weekend and Boston welcomes St. Louis to Boston for a three game set.

#2.  Chicago Cubs  45-28

Interleague play has not been kind thus far to the North Side boys, they are 2-4 and losers of three straight after being swept in Tampa Bay.  Next up in the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox, the road doesn’t get easier.  Chicago, like Boston, is dominate at home, losers of only 8 all year.

#3.  Tampa Bay Rays  43-29

Those of you expecting the Rays to start “dropping off any day now” best not hold your breath.  6-4 in their last ten, only 1.5 games behind division leading Boston, 6-3 in interleague play and the floundering Astros coming to town.  Should be a good weekend to be a Ray.

#4.  Los Angeles Angels of Anahaim  43-30

One of the reasons why no one really takes the Angels seriously as a World Series contender is their lack of offensive punch.  Defense is solid.  Starting pitching is solid.  Bullpen is solid.  Offense is lack luster at best.  Yes, defense and pitching wins titles.  At some point you need to score runs.  Look for L.A. to be in the hunt for a deadline bat to get into that lineup.  A potential trading partner could be division rival Texas as they look to unload Milton Bradley.

#5.  St. Louis Cardinals  42-32

The Cards have been zinged as of late, dropping three straight.  Against Kansas City.  I can’t imagine that does a lot for your confidence as you head into a city where winning is notoriously hard for visiting teams (just ask the Lakers).  A bright spot for the Cards, however, is that they are one of the few teams in the league over .500 on the road.  So they know how to get it done.

#6.  Chicago White Sox  41-31

Was that batting practice or did the Pirates just leave town?  What a smoke show for the South Side, easily crushing Pittsburgh three in a row and making the Pirates look like a bad AAA team in the process.  The central is surprisingly weak this year as the Sox are fending off the Twins, of all teams, by 4.5 games.

#7.  Philadelphia Phillies  42-22

Talk about from the frying pan into the fire.  If Philly had a hard time with Boston’s speed trio of Ellsbury, Crisp and Lugo, what will the Angels do to them this weekend?  Boston stole bases against the Phills at will, swiping six on Wednesday night in the finale.  Scary.  4-6 in their last ten and holding off Florida by an arm.

#8.  Oakland A’s   39-33

By a showing of hands, who thought Oakland would be within 3.5 games of first place in their division as we head towards July?  Liars.  None of you did.  I sure didn’t.  Oakland is a team that is well balanced and could actually make a season out of it.  Everyone expected it to be a two-team show in the west and it is.  That second team just isn’t Seattle, it’s Oakland.

#9.  Florida Marlins  39-33

5 –5 in their last ten, is Florida starting to cool off a little?  I’m not so sure.  Speaking of those A’s, this weekend will be a good matchup between the Fish and the boys by the Bay.  Josh Johnson should be back before the all-star break and Josh Willingham could be back before the next homestand.  That would be huge for this team that is within striking distance of the East.  Was Maine wrong about the Fish?

#10  New York Yankees   40-33

The Yankees haven’t been on the PT since the pre-season rankings.  They are 8-2 in their last 10, winners of seven straight and suddenly well within striking distance of the division lead at an even five games.  The Bombers signed Sidney Ponsoon this week which some might think is a joke, until you see that Ponson was pitching very well in Texas prior to his release.  4-1, ERA well under 4.00, his attitude (as always) was the problem.  We’ll see if the Bronx clubhouse has a way to patrol that.  Losing Wang hurts but Ponson could take away the sting.

That is what I have, boys and girls.  Get to it.

[TonyB0D]

can't argue much...i knew the yankees would be up there sooner than later.  i just hope the pitching staff can keep themselves afloat.  hey, guess who comes back off the DL next month....CARLA!!  maybe he'll pitch two more stellar games before straining his vag again.  once hughes comes off the DL it'll be a big boost, assuming he can get back to where he was last year.

[StL FinFan]

Pretty soon, the whole team will be out there with casts, slings and crutches. 

[bsfins]

I think If I was a Cardinals fan..I'd hang my hat on this..The Cubs haven't made the playoffs in back to back years since 1908.(the last time they won the W.S....They find ways to lose..Big Z has a shoulder Problem...We are going to have to go Rent us another outfielder,and starting pitcher.(as maine predicted out Middle relief is going shaky) The Cardinals depsite all thier injuries have put together a good team that is only going to get better.....

[Sunstroke]

I've been jonesing for the PT big-time lately. Random chatter on the list...

* Boston... I can only pray that Chekovi goes to another team at some point in his career, because I enjoy cheering for my favorite players, and Ellsbury is rapidly becoming one of those. I like Masterson as well, and hope he keeps his spot in the rotation the rest of the way.

* Chicago... I -heart- Carlos Marmol, despite his getting blown up yesterday. He needs to be someone's closer...and I wish SD would make a deal with Chicago so that Carlos could succeed Trevor for that role.

* Tampa Bay... Maine's soooo right, the Rays are definitely for real. Kazmir is a beast, the staff is solid overall (though I think Percy's on the weak side for a closer), and they have a sick amount of young offensive talent that only stands to get better in the second half.

* Los Angelheim... I think their offensive issues will straighten out a little bit. They got Kendrick back about a week or so ago, and I think he's the key at the top of their order. Jury's still out on Joe Saunders... Sometimes the bipolar junkballer looks like an ace, and sometimes he looks like a deuce.

St Louis... Pujols going down is definitely NOT what the Card's needed. I do like the young OF Ryan Ludwick though. He looks like a legit big league hitter to me. Where have you gone, Chris Carpenter, heaven holds a place for fans who pray...hey, hey, hey.

ChiSox... I don't know which gave me more pleasure last week...watching Ozzie Guillen talk to reporters or watching Bartolo Colon swinging a bat for Boston during interleague play. OK, probably Colon, but Guillen's ALWAY's good for a soundbite.

Philadelphia... Chase Utley has rapid-cooled lately, but Shane Victorino's return to the outfield and Ryan Howard suddenly remembering that he's a masher has kept Philly on top of the East.

Oakland...I just like saying Justin Duchscherer's name. - Duchscherer, Duchscherer, Duchscherer...ahhhhh.

YOUR Florida Marlins... Hanley's pulled out of his funk, Uggla's still ripiing the ball out of his mind, and some key missing elements will be returning soon. I still think Florida is going to end up in the playoffs this year, and only part of that is a fan's hope.

The Evil Dead... When I judged the entertainment value between Bartolo's bat swings and Ozzie Guillen's mood swings above, I should have noted that it was for second place on the List of Supreme Hilarity, as anything that Hank Stenbrenner says immediately takes first place.

[MaineDolFan]

(as maine predicted out Middle relief is going shaky)

Even a busted ass clock is correct twice a day!