The 2010 MLB season has featured a number of tight playoff races in both the American and National Leagues.  This includes the AL and NL Central, NL East and both leagues’ wild card spots. 

But none has been tighter than the AL East, where the defending champion New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays are currently tied for first place with MLB-best 78-49 records.

The two teams have been in and out of first place throughout the season with the Rays currently holding a 6-5 edge in the season series.  The division and home field advantage throughout the AL playoffs could hinge on the outcome of their remaining 7 games against each other – a three-game series in Tampa starting September 13 followed by a four-gamer in the Bronx one week later.

While the suits at the “Bristol Improv” would surely prefer yet another Yankees-Red Sox showdown, the Yankees-Rays race features two of the top offenses in all of baseball.  New York ranks first in both runs scored and RBIs, while Tampa Bay is third in both categories.  Apart from that, the two teams couldn’t be more different:

• The Yankees have the highest MLB team payroll in 2010, $206.3 million.  Tampa ranks 21^st with a payroll of $71.9 million.
• The Yankees are a team of free agents and aging veterans, while the Rays are a team with a roster of predominantly young, home-grown players.
• One team plays in a state-of-the-art, cathedral-like park (the new Yankee Stadium), while the other plays in a domed dump where the roof catwalks are in fair territory.
• One team has a third baseman who dates an actress, while the other has one who almost shares the name of an actress.

Expect this race to stay close well into September. 

The Yankees could have an advantage if they get Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettite back from the disabled list but the Rays have the schedule edge at the end of the season. After their final visit to New York, the Rays end with their final nine games against the Mariners, Orioles and Royals. 

The ‘X-factor’ in all this? 

The Yankees’ hated rival, the Boston Red Sox, face them six times in the final nine games and would love to play the role of spoiler.

Used with permission of the author.

Chris Lardieri covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’.  Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Over three quarters of the baseball season has been played and when the calendar flips to September expect some exciting American League pennant races to go down to the wire.

While no teams have been mathematically eliminated, only six AL teams still have a greater than 10% chance of making it to the playoffs according to www.coolstandings.com.

Since only four teams make the playoffs we should see some tight series as teams grind it out and the schedule rounds third and heads for home. Here’s the rundown of the remaining teams vying for a post-season spot.

AL East:

Competitors and their Playoff Chances:

New York Yankees: 93.8%

Tampa Bay Rays: 93.3%

Boston Red Sox: 10.5%

Stretch Run Outlook:

Although the Red Sox still have a little greater than 10% chance of making the playoffs, it is looking more and more certain that they will be spending October at home for the first time since 2006. If you were to pick a random player from the Red Sox opening day roster, you would more than likely choose someone who has spent time on the DL this year.

Currently, the list of injured Red Sox includes Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury. The injuries, coupled with the ineffectiveness of Josh Beckett and John Lackey have essentially killed the Red Sox playoff hopes. While they still have a chance to get in, they picked up Detroit Tigers player Johnny Damon on waivers today hoping to increase their chances. Besides Damon, they would have to use a cast including several replacement players to get through the two strongest teams in baseball.

As you can see from the playoff odds, both the Rays and Yankees are likely to make the playoffs this year. The Yankees currently have a one game lead in the division and the Rays lead the Wild Card race by 5.5 games (over the Red Sox). The Chicago White Sox are the only non division leading AL East team that is even within 10 games of the Rays.

On the year, the Yankees have the best run-differential in all of baseball (followed closely by the Rays) and are leading the majors in runs scored. The Yanks are third in the AL in fewest runs allowed, so the pitching hasn’t been too shabby either.

The Rays on the other hand, have allowed the fewest runs while pushing the third most across the plate.

Over the rest of the season, the Yankees and Rays meet seven more times (four of them at Yankee Stadium), which could play a huge part in deciding who wins the division and who takes the Wild Card. The Rays currently hold the advantage between the two teams, with a 6-5 record and +1 run differential in 11 games against the Yankees.

While it probably won’t matter who wins the division and who takes the Wild Card (both teams will likely be the favorites to advance to the ALCS), I would put my money on the Yankees at this point. Although the return of Jeff Neimann will help, I think the Rays would have benefited from leaving Jeremy Hellickson in the starting rotation instead of Wade Davis.

AL Central:

Competitors and their Playoff Chances:

Minnesota Twins: 88.2%

Chicago White Sox: 13.5%

Stretch Run Outlook:

The Central originally looked like a three team race, but the Detroit Tigers have collapsed leaving the White Sox and Twins to battle for the Division.

Just 12 days ago on August 11^th, the Twins and White Sox were actually tied atop the division, but a Chicago cold streak and Minnesota hot streak have allowed the Twins to open up a five game lead over the White Sox.

Going forward, I just don’t see the White Sox catching the Twins. So far, the Twins have scored more runs and allowed fewer than the White Sox. The Twins also have a much larger group of players on the DL and will only get even stronger from here on out (especially when Justin Morneau returns).

The two teams face off only three times over the remainder of the season, which could be considered a positive or negative for the White Sox. The easiest way to make up ground is by playing head-to-head, but the White Sox are only 5-10 against the Twins so far this year, and might only stand to lose more if they played more often.

Although the White Sox have some hitters (specifically Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham) who have stepped up in the second half, they will struggle to play better than the more complete Twins team.

AL West:

Competitors and their Playoff Chances:

Texas Rangers: 92.4%

Both the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics have less than a five percent chance of making the playoffs, so the AL West doesn’t appear to be much of a race down the stretch. The Rangers have played the worst baseball (.561 winning percentage) of any division leader (they actually have only the fifth best record in the American League) yet still hold an eight game division lead. Thus far the Rangers have split the season series (6-6) with Oakland and hold a slight edge over (7-5) over Los Angeles so unless something drastic changes in the division, the Rangers should be coasting toward October and getting set to play the Wild Card winner.

Used with permission of the author.

 Along with contributing to Sports Climax, Brett Kettyle is the Atlanta Braves Community Leader on Bleacher Report and maintains a Braves column for MTR Media. Follow Brett on Twitter.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

On July 13, 2010, Major League Baseball and the New York Yankees lost one of their most eccentric owners on the same day they celebrated their 81^st All-Star Game. 

George “The Boss” Steinbrenner suffered a heart attack in his Tampa, Florida home and passed away after 37 years of ownership in Major League Baseball, a stint that began in 1973 when he purchased the Yankees.

To commemorate the owner, the Yankees will be wearing custom-made patches on their game jerseys for the remainder of the season.   

Steinbrenner revolutionized ownership in all major league sports after his purchase of the New York Yankees from CBS on January 3, 1973, an acquisition that occurred after his failed attempt to purchase the Cleveland Indians a year earlier.

Steinbrenner would go on to hold ownership of the Yankees longer than any previous owner in the team’s history and soon became known for his controversial moves with management, players and other personnel.

Three months after he unpacked his bags in the Bronx, controversy ensued when the team’s president left the organization after crossing paths with The Boss. The following season, Steinbrenner attempted to hire rival manager Dick Williams from the Oakland Athletics but was prevented from doing so due to Williams remaining under contract with the A’s. Adding controversy to this attempt was the fact Williams had mysteriously resigned following a second consecutive World Series championship for his A’s.

At that same time, the A’s and Yankees rivalry was fueled when the flamboyant Yankees owner began targeting and signing several Oakland players including Catfish Hunter and most notably, Reggie Jackson. 

Steinbrenner was also notorious for his grooming demands that prevented players from displaying facial hair with the exception of mustaches – a policy that was challenged several times most notably by fan favorite, Don Mattingly.

A more recent example of the results from the hair codes around the Yankee clubhouse is when Johnny Damon left the Boston Red Sox organization with his shoulder-length hair and a full beard then showed up at his first Yankees press conference as clean shaven as a Marine.

Throughout his years at the helm, regardless of performance, Steinbrenner would change management. In fact, Billy Martin was fired and eventually rehired five times among the twenty changes that were made in The Boss’ first 23 years of ownership.  Many times personal animosity would result from on-field moves and decisions such as the case of Buck Showalter’s resignation in 1995. 

One of Steinbrenner’s most unusual moves for the era came before the beginning of the 1981 season when Dave Winfield was presented with a $23 million contract over a period of ten years.  At the time, this move made Winfield the highest paid player in the history of baseball. By 1985 Steinbrenner openly questioned the performance of Winfield to media personnel after the team struggled in a September series against the rival Toronto Blue Jays. 

The feud with Winfield finally culminated in 1990 when it was discovered that Steinbrenner had paid for information to be “dug up” on Winfield who had already sued the Yankees in the amount of $300,000 due to a violation of contract issues.

After investigation by MLB, Steinbrenner would receive a lifetime ban from baseball that was later lifted when he was reinstated in 1993. The feud would remain so bitter that Winfield chose to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the San Diego Padres – the first team Winfield had played for and the city he had left to become a member of the Yankees.

Steinbrenner eventually become less involved in the actual operations of the team and it was during this period that the team became a consistent contender, playing neck-and-neck with the eventual World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays until September 1993. The Yankees finally returned to the playoffs in 1995 ending a 14-year drought. 

In a more recent move that was heavily criticized by the media and numerous members within baseball, Steinbrenner hired Joe Torre in 1996 in what would end up his longest managerial relationship at a record of twelve years. With Torre as manager, Steinbrenner produced a World Series winner when the Yankees defeated a very competitive Atlanta Braves team in six games in 1996. 

The team would return to, and win, the World Series again in 1998, 1999 and 2000 while making the playoffs every season for 12 consecutive years until falling short and finishing third in the competitive American League East in 2008. 

Success was once again right around the corner as the Yankees again captured the World Series championship in 2009 after a series with the Philadelphia Phillies.  The championship marked the 27^thof the organization and the seventh under the ownership of Steinbrenner. 

Steinbrenner leaves behind a legacy of championships and controversy as owner of the New York Yankees.

The salaries of professional sports were forever changed when Dave Winfield was pulled away from the San Diego Padres with such a lucrative offer for that time.  For the most part – prior to Steinbrenner – management was content to hire general managers and presidents who would run the operation of the game as they watched from a distance.

The Boss was one of the first to become involved in day-to-day operations of the team and began a legacy of management changes during unsuccessful periods that still echo today.  Steinbrenner was one of the first to look for immediate success with new management and that trend has continued across all four major sports leagues. Above all, though, Steinbrenner will remain beloved as a man that loved his Yankees, city and game.

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

The New York Yankees announced the team will be wearing patches to “commemorate the lives and recognize the passings of former Principal Owner / Chairperson George M. Steinbrenner III and longtime Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard”.

Sheppard, whose delivery was described by his followers as “the voice of God”,  died last week at the age of 99 and Steinbrenner, another Yankees’ icon, died of a massive heart attack yesterday morning in Tampa just hours before the All-Star game.

Steinbrenner who bought the Yankees decades ago then tranformed the team back into a winner was 80 years old.

The Yankees players will don the uniform patches for the remainder of the season, beginning with Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium.

 The Steinbrenner commemorative patch will be worn above the interlocking NY on the left breast of the Yankees’ home jerseys and above the letters “YORK” on the left breast of the Yankees’ road uniforms. Both locations are over the heart.

 The Sheppard commemorative patch will be worn on the left sleeve of the Yankees’ home and road jerseys.

At last night’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Anaheim, Calif., Manager Joe Girardi, Yankees players and Yankees coaches wore black armbands on their left sleeves in honor of Mr. Steinbrenner’s passing.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

After botching several critical calls during this year’s playoff series and World Series, Major League Baseball decided to ignore the serious issue surrounding their sport and did not present any proposals to expand on their current video replay system – Sports Climax Editor

Below is a story contributed by National Sportswriter Paula Duffy.

CHICAGO – In Chicago this week, the MLB general managers never even made a proposal related to expansion of replay, never mind  vote on anything.Mlb.com reported on Tuesday afternoon that the prevailing opinion was in sync with public statements made by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. 

MLB executive vice president, Jimmy Lee Solomon said:

“We only have now a season and a couple of months’ experience with it. Now there are those who clamor for more and more instant replay. I think we have to digest what we’ve got. We’ve got to look at this technology and look at where we are as a sport.”

In other words, what’s your hurry buddy, we don’t like to be pushed. As previously noted, a younger more tech-savvy base of executives wouldn’t blink at discussing what was the hottest topic to come out of the post-season, besides A-Rod’s awakening and use of pitchers on “short rest”.

Yankees GM, Brian Cashman spoke for those of us who don’t see this as heresy or acting hastily. MLB.com carries this quote: I’m big on technology,” Cashman said. “I’m open to any way we can help the umpires. We want what the umpires want — to get the calls right.”

Unfortunately he added that he would leave the matter up to the Commissioner’s Office and the umpire’s union. If they believe all is fine, Cashman will be good with that.

Too bad.

I don’t expect revolutionary changes to be made only a week after the conclusion of the World Series but the absence of an agenda item with a proposal that could be studied and debated is disheartening. We’re left with the usual blather that can be summed up by a statement made by Mets’ GM, Omar Minaya: “Look, umpires are going to make bad calls.”

Well at least that doesn’t need to be an agenda item and debated. We all know that already.

NEW YORK – Derek Jeter staked a claim in New York Yankee history Friday night when he passed Bronx great Lou  Gehrig’s team record for most hits.

After a rain delay, Jeter provided the Yankee fans with what they came out to see when he singled off Orioles’ pitcher Chris Tillman in the third inning.

It was hit 2,722 for the Yankee infielder, beating Gehrig’s record that had survived seven decades.

After breaking the record, Jeter said, “The whole experience has been overwhelming. This is more than I could’ve imagined.”

Jeter was appreciative of the dedication of the fans to stick it out on a stormy night. “I didn’t expect that many people to be out there after the rain delay considering how hard it was raining when we started the game but the fans were incredible,” said Jeter.

“It says a lot about how they feel about their team and more importantly how they feel about the history of their team. I appreciate each and every one that was there.”

Yankee teammate Jorge Posada believes there’s a lot more to come from Jeter. “He’s going to be the only Yankee to ever hit 3,000 hits,” said Posada. “[With] all the players that came through here, he’s going to be the only one with 3,000 hits. He’s a special guy.”

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax