MLB Update

Division leaders in italics. Games behind in parentheses.

NATIONAL LEAGUE:
1. Philadelphia: 34-22 (0)
2. St. Louis: 33-23 (1)
3. Florida: 31-22 (1.5)
T4. Milwaukee: 30-25 (3.5)
T4. Arizona: 30-25 (3.5)
6. San Francisco: 29-25 (4)
7. Atlanta: 30-26 (4)
8. Cincinnati: 28-28 (6)
9. Pittsburgh: 25-28 (7.5)
10. Los Angeles: 26-30 (8)
T11. New York: 25-29 (8)
T11. Colorado: 25-29 (8)
T13. Washington: 24-31 (9.5)
T13. San Diego: 24-31 (9.5)
15. Chicago: 23-31 (10)
16. Houston: 22-34 (12)

The Phillies continue to be the best team in the National League, although it is interesting to see that St. Louis is keeping it close. Arizona went 65-97 last year, but they are leading the division this year. I have no idea how this has happened, but it does seem that the standings in the NL West change wildly from one year to the next. (For example, San Diego won 90 games last year, and now they're tied with Natstown.) The Nats, on the other hand, are a rock -- you always know what they're going to do. And it looks as though Pittsburgh is coming down to join the Nats, as usual.

AMERICAN LEAGUE:
1. Cleveland: 32-20 (0)
2. New York: 30-23 (2.5)
T3. Boston: 30-26 (4)
T3. Texas: 30-26 (4)
5. Tampa Bay: 29-26 (4.5)
T6. Detroit: 28-26 (5)
T6. Seattle: 28-26 (5)
8. Toronto: 28-27 (5.5)
9. Los Angeles: 29-28 (5.5)
10. Oakland: 27-29 (7)
11. Chicago: 27-31 (8)
12. Baltimore: 24-29 (8.5)
13. Kansas City: 24-30 (9)
14. Minnesota: 17-36 (15.5)

I haven't been following baseball very closely, so I have no idea why Cleveland (69-93 last year) is playing so well, or why Minnesota (94-68 last year) is playing so poorly. My guess -- like that of everyone on the East Coast -- is that this will still come down to the Yankees and the Red Sox. Meanwhile, I note that Baltimore and Kansas City have staked out their usual place in the standings. In terms of competing for the playoffs, the Nats, Pirates, Orioles and Royals have effectively dropped out of the majors.

Updated Predictions:

NL East: Philadelphia
NL Central: St. Louis
NL West: San Francisco
NL Wild Card: Atlanta


AL East: New York
AL Central: Chicago
AL West: Los Angeles
AL Wild Card: Boston