If you’re a Mariners fan like me, the first half of the 2008 Major League Baseball season has been almost unbearable to watch. As of yesterday, Seattle is a game and a half ahead of the Washington Nationals for the dubious honor of the worst record in baseball at 37-58.
They’ve fired their manager, their general manager and have started a fire sale by releasing under-achieving slugger Richie Sexson. To top it all off, off-season acquisition Erik Bedard was just put on the disabled list for the second time this season.
This season is extra bitter because the Mariners were projected to take the American League West and be a viable contender to win the pennant. But who ever was the genius behind that didn’t realize that the team is the Seattle Mariners. This is the team that won 116 games in 2001- and didn’t win the pennant. This is the team that has produced a stable full of future Hall of Famers, including Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr, and Alex Rodriguez, only to see them go on and be successful on other teams. Let’s just say that Mariners fans are used to heartache.
But for the rest of the nation, this baseball season is shaping up to be one for the ages. The lovable losers, the Chicago Cubs have the best record in baseball at 57-38. They are four and a half games up on the St. Louis Cardinals, and manager Lou Piniella (another former Mariner) has the Cubbies in position to win the World Series; something they haven’t done for 100 years.
A key story to watch for the remainder of the season for the Cubs is the addition of pitcher Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics. In his debut he didn’t allow a run in five and a third innings and struck out ten. If he continues to pitch well Chicago will be extremely hard to beat in a seven game series.
Another turnaround story is that of the Tampa Bay Rays. Currently they’re sitting at 55-39 and only a half game behind the defending world champion Boston Red Sox and ahead of the New York Yankees. Last year the Rays were last in baseball and had played themselves out of contention by mid-May.
The turnaround can be attributed to the young talent they have brought up from the farm system. The youth movement is led by June Rookie of the Month Evan Longoria, the third pick in the 2006 MLB draft. He was voted on to the American League All-Star roster, and his 16 home runs are the second most for a rookie by the All-Star break.
Speaking of surprises, the Detroit Tigers continue to wallow in mediocrity despite having one of the best lineups in baseball. Going into the All-Star break, they are 47-47 and seven games behind the Chicago White Sox for first place in the American League Central. Many preseason predictions had the Tigers as the team to beat after they signed Miguel Cabrera and Dontrell Willis from the Florida Marlins. But instead of succeeding, they started the season with a big flop, losing their first seven games.
The All-Star game this year will be held at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, and look for it to be a grand show because this year marks the final season games will be played in the House that Ruth Built.
On the American League roster, the Boston Red Sox dominate the team, scoring seven spots including newcomer Dustin Pedroia. Yankees Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera will represent the hometown for the festivities.
On the Red Sox having so many people invited to the game, A-Rod says it will be weird having “them” play in New York with out the usual rivalry.
But if you’re like most and dislike the amount of media coverage the Yankees and Red Sox get, look to the young crowd to get a fresh perspective on the game. San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum made his first game this year, along with Cincinnati pitcher Edinson Volquez, who currently leads the NL in ERA, wins, and strikeouts. Included are the aforementioned Rays and Minnesota Twins who are both sending three players to Yankee Stadium.
The second half of the season looks to be just as exciting as the first. More milestones for players will be reached and with the Cubs, Rays, White Sox, and the Philadelphia Phillies all in contention, there will be new blood at the top soon.
And I say go ahead and root for the Cubs, because it’s been 100 years since they’ve won a title, and who knows? It just might be 100 more before they win again.