Second-half story lines: races, deals and healthy returns
Article By smcneal.tsn on 14th July, 2010
Ubaldo Jimenez is halfway to 30 wins. Miguel Cabrera is poised to make a serious run at the Triple Crown. No-hitters are being pitched at a near-record pace.
But the No. 1 reason to look forward to baseball's second half, which begins with seven games Thursday, has nothing to do with individual glory. It is all about the pennant races, which are as plentiful as they are tight. For the first time since the dawn of the six-division alignment, no division leader will take more than a 4 1/2-game lead into the second half.
Even more surprising are the teams on top, where only one club pegged for first place -- who else, the Yankees -- resides there. In the N.L., the Braves have zoomed past the Phillies in the East, the Reds have overtaken the Cardinals in the Central and the Padres continue to surprise in the West. In the American League, the White Sox have come from 9 1/2 games back to lead the Central in just more than a month, and the Rangers sit 4 1/2 games ahead of the perennial-favorite Angels.
Three factors that will impact the races long before the September stretch.
SCHEDULE MATTERS
Because 17 clubs have a legitimate chance of reaching the postseason, contenders will face off regularly from now until October. Just look at this weekend, for example:
David Price says the Rays just need to get either their offense or pitching on track and the other will follow. Rays at Yankees. The Rays led the Yankees until their June swoon. A 9-2 July has pushed them in front of the Red Sox and within two games of the Yankees. "We struggled offensively and pitching two or three weeks ago but came out of it," A.L. All-Star starter David Price said. "That's what good teams do. If we get our one or the other -- our offense or our pitching -- back on track, we'll be fine."
The Yankees will finish the season without two fallen franchise icons, though they will be remembered on the teams'...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
But the No. 1 reason to look forward to baseball's second half, which begins with seven games Thursday, has nothing to do with individual glory. It is all about the pennant races, which are as plentiful as they are tight. For the first time since the dawn of the six-division alignment, no division leader will take more than a 4 1/2-game lead into the second half.
Even more surprising are the teams on top, where only one club pegged for first place -- who else, the Yankees -- resides there. In the N.L., the Braves have zoomed past the Phillies in the East, the Reds have overtaken the Cardinals in the Central and the Padres continue to surprise in the West. In the American League, the White Sox have come from 9 1/2 games back to lead the Central in just more than a month, and the Rangers sit 4 1/2 games ahead of the perennial-favorite Angels.
Three factors that will impact the races long before the September stretch.
SCHEDULE MATTERS
Because 17 clubs have a legitimate chance of reaching the postseason, contenders will face off regularly from now until October. Just look at this weekend, for example:
David Price says the Rays just need to get either their offense or pitching on track and the other will follow. Rays at Yankees. The Rays led the Yankees until their June swoon. A 9-2 July has pushed them in front of the Red Sox and within two games of the Yankees. "We struggled offensively and pitching two or three weeks ago but came out of it," A.L. All-Star starter David Price said. "That's what good teams do. If we get our one or the other -- our offense or our pitching -- back on track, we'll be fine."
The Yankees will finish the season without two fallen franchise icons, though they will be remembered on the teams'...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
