Playin' Cards

With a little more than a month to go in the season, the NL and AL Wild Card Races are getting closer and closer. The Marlins just swept the Phillies to put them back in the Wild Card and the NL East race. The Red Sox have lost 6 straight. Even the Nationals have won 8 STRAIGHT?!?! That has nothing to do with the Wild Card race; I just wanted to point it out. Anyway, here are some notes about the Wild Card race.

American League Team That Will Fall: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are not as close as some of the other teams in the race, I think they will fall, even though I am a Mariners fan. Texas is doing very well recently and they are in the AL West like Seattle. Not to mention the Angels are leading the division and are 8 games ahead of Seattle. Seattle just doesn't have any huge weapons on the offensive side other than Ichiro. As much as I wish I could say Griffey is doing well, he's not.

National League Team That Will Fall: Colorado Rockies
I wanted to say the Marlins, but they do not play a division leader until September 14th. The Rockies just have a tough schedule ahead of them, and they, like Seattle, do not have a standout talent.

American League Wild Card Winner: Texas Rangers
All of the teams remaining in the race have very difficult schedules. I think the Red Sox have too much to deal with on and off the field, and I think the Rays are going to hang in but lose in the end because they only play the Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers from August 28 to September 14th. Texas has great young talent and Kinsler will be back soon.

National League Wild Card Winner: Chicago Cubs
Too much talent. That's all there is too it. Chicago was the pick for many to win it all, but I thought the Cardinals would do great this year with Pujols. They don't have an extremely tough schedule left, and I think their hitters will come alive in September.