If the Major League Baseball playoffs started today, we might be seeing a few teams in the playoffs that no one, I mean NO ONE predicted in the pre-season.
Can you imagine if the Florida Marlins or Cleveland Indians or Kansas City Royals were to make it all the way to the World Series?? It's more than likely not going to happen, but as of right now, they're projected to be in the playoffs. Keep in mind that this is only through 13 (of 162) games and there is obviously plenty of baseball left in this 2011 season.
The Colorado Rockies (11-2) own the best record in the National League and all of Major League Baseball and they fully proved it last night at home by blanking the Chicago Cubs and winning their seventh game in a row, 5-0. They'll host the Cubs (6-7) tonight when youngster Casey Coleman (0-0) hurls against Jason Hammel (1-0). The Rockies have proved thus far that they're a legit contender all season long for the NL West division title. "Tulo is hitting like a mad man," according to my brother Brian, who lives in the Denver suburbs. It will be interesting as the season progresses to see what the Rockies can do.
The Texas Rangers (10-3) are sporting the best record in the American League. Coming off losing the World Series to the San Francisco, the Rangers started 2011 off 9-1. Despite Cliff Lee fleeing to Philadelphia, the starting rotation hasn't flinched a bit. As young as they are, C.J. Wilson, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, and Alexi Ogando have made their presence known by combining for 9 of Texas' 10 wins so far!
Laying the rest of the playoffs out, I'm not quite sure how bad the television rating would be if this were to actually happen.
The New York Yankees (7-5) currently have a slim lead over Toronto for the AL East. The AL Central will catch you all by surprise. The Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals are both sitting atop the division at 9-4. Whichever of these two that didn't win the AL Central, would wind up as the AL Wild Card team. Crazy as the season is, it probably won't end up with these two fighting for the Central title.
The obvious favorite to win the NL East is Philadelphia and they're currently leading the division at 9-4. Florida (8-5) has a slim margin on the Wild Card so far, but the Wild Card possibilities will change so many times throughout the season that it's not even worth talking about right now.
The Cincinnati Reds (8-5) are 1 game ahead of Milwaukee (7-6), 1.5 ahead of St. Louis (7-7) and 2 games ahead of Chicago (6-7) and Pittsburgh (6-7). It's honestly hard telling who will take this division outright when the season is over. The Reds look to defend the NL Central, but we'll see a whole summer of dogfighting for the NL Central.
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