FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Two interesting games yesterday, and I can only draw two conclusions from the outcomes....  The Yankees are alive and well, and while I still would not be shocked to see this team on the outside looking in when the playoffs start in October, the Rays and Red Sox have enough questions swirling about them that the Yankees could sneak past either of them and with the AL East or possibly the Wild Card if the Central Division teams continue to beat each other up.  Pitching is still a huge problem, but thankfully it looks like it might be just the rotation that needs to be addressed, and I still see a trade for a pitcher like Jarod Washburn.  The fact that the Yankees didn't blink at the deadline and give up more than was originally offered tells me that they'll get the help they need without crippling the organization for the future.

The Cardinals are a different story.  No matter how you slice it, Tony LaRussa deserves to be the NL Manager of the year.  To have his team 10 games over .500 and only 6 games out of the division lead and one game out in the Wild Card race at this point in the season is simply incredible.  This is a team that didn't look that great on paper heading into the season, and they've been hit with so many injuries that you'd expect them to be battling the Reds and Pirates for the NL Central cellar.  But LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan have kept things rolling along, and this has become one of the most exciting teams in baseball to watch.  They never quit on a game, and even when the fall short, they make games interesting more often than not.  Having said all that, the Cubs and the Brewers are both talented baseball teams, and I hate to say it, but I think their level of talent is just a little bit too much for the Cards to contend with.  I do believe that the team will finish above .500 and will not fall completely out of the race, but I just don't see enough talent here to get the job done, and last night was a perfect example.  The team clawed back, but the bullpen ultimately was the problem as it gave up a home run to Shane Victorino (who is more of a speed guy than a power guy) that proved to be the difference in the game.  You could actually see Lidge reliving some of his worst failures in his mind, but with one out and the bases loaded, the Cards could only send up Nick Stavinoha and Joe Mather.  I like both players, but they just haven't seen enough of Lidge to get the job done in that spot, and ultimately both struck out.

I still expect to have plenty to cheer for from my two favorite teams as we hit the home stretch of the '08 season, but I see a lot of room for disappointment this year -- more so than in any year in the past decade or so.