As Aug. 30 approaches, the possible end of this Major League Baseball season does as well. But the looming strike has not impeded the development of good, old-fashioned pennant races. If the season is not interrupted, the fight for playoff spots should remain intense for the duration.
American League
There is only one division race remaining in the American League, but it's quite a good one. All season, the Oakland Athletics, the Seattle Mariners and the Anaheim Angels have passed control of the AL West back and forth between them. Despite taking the early lead in this division, Seattle has had trouble maintaining its hold. After a three-way tie for first place last week, Oakland has taken control, but whether it will be able to maintain their lead remains yet to be seen.
While the race heats up in the West, things have cooled down in other divisions as both the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees have ostensibly wrapped up the AL Central and the AL East, respectively. Even though Bud Selig has threatened Minnesota with contraction, the Twins could make this nearly impossible if they make the playoffs.
Minnesota's run to the top of its division can be credited to solid fielding and excellent pitching. Shortstop Cristian Guzman has helped bolster his team's offense with a current 23 game hit streak. Meanwhile, the pitching has been led by J.C Romero, who has posted an 8-1 record this season with an ERA of 1.55.
Back in the AL East, the story remains the same as in previous years, with the Yankees looking for their fifth straight division championship. Once again, the Boston Red Sox jumped out to an early lead, only to choke and see Yanks overtake them by mid-season. While the Red Sox continue to battle for the wildcard, it is more likely that the wildcard berth will come from the West instead, leaving the Red Sox out of the playoffs once again.
National League
In the Eastern division, the Atlanta Braves look to wrap up another division title. With the horrid play of the New York Mets this season, the Braves have not faced much competition within the division. While the Braves have played in a comfortable position throughout this season, they will likely face tougher competition in the postseason.The St. Louis Cardinals hope to earn a place in the playoffs by winning the NL Central. While the Cards have played solid baseball this season, the passing of ace Daryl Kile has had an effect on the team both emotionally and on the field. With their lead over the Houston Astros wheedled down to three games as of Monday, the Cardinals are aware that the pennant race is far from over.
If the Braves or the Cardinals want to earn the title of NL Champion, they will likely have to beat the world-champion Arizona Diamondbacks. The team is known for its all-star pitchers, Randy Johnson and Curt Shilling, but the Diamondbacks carry heavy hitters in their lineup as well. Second baseman Junior Spivey has led the hitters of late with a .318 batting average and a .508 slugging percentage as of Monday. If the Diamondbacks continue playing in this manner, they represent the NL's best bet to make the World Series.
