DownSwinging.com

Here we are, the beginning of September, and the pennant races are heating up. Or are they? Surprisingly, the number of tight, tight races seems to be fewer than usual. Since the inception of the wild card, baseball fans are treated annualy to races that come down to the wire, but this year, at least right now, it may be that the NL wild card is the only real close competition in two or three weeks.

Now, there are some close races. The Red Sox are 2.5 games up on the Rangers in the AL wild card. The Angels are 3.5 up on Texas in the AL West. But decent logic suggests that the Red Sox and Angels will both pull away from the Rangers, due to the fact that those two teams have a little more talent and a lot more experience than the Rangers. It’s not that either race would be impossible for the Rangers to catch up in, I just don’t see it happening. Likewise, I don’t see the Twins catching the Tigers, nor do I think the Rockies or Giants can make up the five games they need on the Dodgers. And the distance the Cardinals have put between themselves and everyone else is absolutely incredible.

But at the very least, the NL wild card should provide the necessary sparks that September usually does. And don’t think this is just the Giants and Rockies either, the Braves and Marlins are still in play. I actually think the Marlins have a better shot than the Braves at catching the two frontrunners, because their pitching always has potential to improve, even in September. But even still, I think it’s going to come down to the Rocks and Giants, and if I had to make a call my gut has got to go Giants. Even though Tim Lincecum was outpitched by Pedro Martinez tonight, the combo of him and Matt Cain (and Jonathan Sanchez too!) will be too much in this last month for the Rockies to hang on. It will be close, but still I see San Francisco in the playoffs.

So without further ado, I present the Yankees, Tigers, Angels, Red Sox, Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers and Giants: your 2009 MLB playoff teams.