MLB Update

Well, after I talked up the chances of the Mets, they pretty much collapsed.  The Mets have now lost six in a row, they were swept by the Braves and the Cubs, and ESPN now gives them only a 13.8 percent chance of making the playoffs.  In fact, the two hottest teams in the NL are those two long-time October losers, the Braves and the Nats.  The Cardinals are also making a strong run.  The race between the Cardinals and the Cubs is the most interesting thing going in the NL.

Over in the AL, we're pretty much marking time until the Yankees and Astros can meet in the playoffs.  While we are waiting, the race between the A's, Rays, and Red Sox for the last wild card could also result in some drama.

Last weekend, the Yankees went out to Dodger Stadium and took 2 out of 3 without too much trouble.  I thought that series boded very ill for the Dodgers.  But of course, I thought the Mets were a contender.

One more point:  There are, as always, multiple reports (mostly from reporters that don't like baseball) that MLB is in trouble.  There is also a story that the Kansas City Royals (which were bought in 2000 for $96 million) are now on sale for close to $1 billion.  That seems like a pretty significant data point when we talk about whether MLB is in trouble.

NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Los Angeles:  88-48  --
Atlanta:  81-54  6 1/2
Washington:  74-58  12
St. Louis:  73-59  13
Chicago:  72-61  14 1/2
Philadelphia:  69-63  17
Milwaukee:  68-65  18 1/2
Arizona:  68-66  19
New York:  67-66  19 1/2
San Francisco:  65-68  21 1/2
Cincinnati:  63-70  23 1/2
San Diego:  62-71  24 1/2
Colorado:  59-76  28 1/2
Pittsburgh:  57-77  30
Miami:  48-85  38 1/2

AMERICAN LEAGUE:
New York:  88-47  --
Houston:  87-48  1
Minnesota:  82-51  5
Cleveland:  79-55  8 1/2
Oakland:  77-56  10
Tampa Bay:  77-58  11
Boston:  72-62  15 1/2
Texas:  65-70  23
Los Angeles:  64-71  24
Chicago:  60-73  27
Seattle:  57-78  31
Toronto:  54-81  34
Kansas City:  47-88  41
Baltimore:  44-89  43
Detroit:  39-92  47