MLB Update

I haven't been doing these very often because there's just not very much to say. Unless you like the Phillies or Brewers, this just isn't much of a season. Here's the National League (division winners in italics):

1. Philadelphia: 87-46 (0 games behind)

2. Atlanta: 81-55 (7.5)

3. Milwaukee: 81-57 (8.5)

4. Arizona: 78-59 (11)

5. St. Louis: 73-64 (16)

6. San Francisco: 72-65 (17)

7. Cincinnati: 67-70 (22)

8. New York: 66-69 (22)

9. Los Angeles: 66-70 (22.5)

10. Colorado: 64-73 (25)

11. Washington: 63-72 (25)

12. Pittsburgh: 62-75 (27)

13. Florida: 60-76 (28.5)

14. San Diego: 60-77 (29)

15. Chicago: 59-78 (30)

16. Houston: 47-90 (42)

I cannot remember any team being as dominant in the National League as the Phillies have been this year since the Big Red Machine. Notice that no team is closer than 7.5 games to Philadelphia, and only six teams are within 20 games of the Phillies. And yet three other teams will have a chance to knock out Philly in a short series -- which would just make a mockery of the season. At least we know what the playoff matchups will be: Philadelphia v. Arizona, and Milwaukee v. Atlanta. That second series will be a big deal for the five living people who remember when the Braves were in Milwaukee.

Here's the American League:

1. Boston: 83-53 (0 games behind)

2. New York: 82-53 (0.5)

3. Texas: 78-60 (6)

4. Detroit: 75-62 (8.5)

5. Tampa Bay: 74-62 (9)

6. Los Angeles: 74-63 (9.5)

T7. Chicago: 68-66 (14)

T7. Cleveland: 68-66 (14)

9. Toronto: 69-68 (14.5)

10. Oakland: 61-76 (22.5)

11. Seattle: 58-78 (25)

12. Minnesota: 57-79 (26)

13. Kansas City: 57-81 (27)

14. Baltimore: 54-81 (28.5)

All you really need to know here is that Boston and New York just wrapped up a three-game series at Fenway Park -- late in the season -- with the teams separated by less than a game -- and no one cared because they're both going to playoffs anyway. Thanks, wild card rule!

If Boston meets New York in the ALCS, and then one of those teams takes on Philadelphia in the World Series, this season will end with a bang. Otherwise, it will go down as one of the most forgettable baseball seasons in history.

8.