In case you haven’t noticed this summer, baseball is back. Despite COVID and climate change, the 2021 MLB season has been one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory. The pitching has been dominate, with nine no-hit games recorded, a major league record. We also witnessed the emergence of Shohei Ohtani , not only an amazing pitcher but who also leads all of baseball with 44 bombs that have left the park, most of the tape measure variety. Also an outfielder and designated hitter with the Los Angeles Angels, the Japanese super star is the first two-way player since the early days of Babe Ruth. And Ohtani, 27, has packed venues from coast to coast with fans anxious to watch this gentle giant play the game we all love.
Ohtani actually shares the home run lead with another special young player, Vladimar Guerrero Jr., the son of HOF icon Vlad Guerrero. The 22 year old Vlad Jr. actually leads all of baseball in seven offensive categories. He was born in Montreal while his dad was playing with the Expos, and speaks Spanish, French and is learning English. Appropriately, he plays for the Toronto Blue Jays along with several other new era talent with major league bloodlines. Veteran Cuban slugger Jose Abreu of the division leading Chicago White Sox leads both leagues in RBI’s, in addition to likely receiving a Rawlings Gold Glove for his defensive skills at first base. And let’s not forget about catcher Salvador Perez. The pride of Venezuela and lone holdover from the Kansas City Royals championship days, Perez is having a career year and would be in the running for American League MVP honors if Ohtani wasn’t in his way.
Back to pitching, the Los Angeles Dodgers Mexican lefty Julio Urias has a sparkling 17-3 record and along with recently acquired veteran Max Scherzer, are the frontrunners for the National League Cy Young Award. While I’m mentioning top hurlers, White Sox reliever Liam Hendricks from Australia is one of the AL leaders in saves. What does this tell us? Baseball has truly become an international sport with Latino players making a huge statement as cream of the crop, now and in the future.
Chicago’s Southside Sox are the only team running away with their division, leading the AL Central by 12 games. The team is managed by 76 year old Tony La Rusa, who speaks fluent Spanish, and nearly half of the team’s roster are Latinos, albeit mostly position players. The two surprise teams are the San Francisco Giants and the Blue Jays, a club that hasn’t been relevant in the AL East since the days of Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar. Likewise, the Giants have suffered several losing seasons since winning World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and 2014 under Bruce Bochy. But this season, the team has shocked the world with a group of savvy veterans and young overachievers playing on house money, and the pitching has been exceptional. All these assets have enabled the boys by the bay to hang onto first place over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the best team money can buy.
With less than three weeks left on the regular season slate, many of the divisional races are still too close to call. But here’s how I think things will shake out when the dust settles and the fast approaching post season begins. Hope the team you cheer for will still be playing in October.
National League West
Division Champions, Los Angeles Dodgers
Even without scum bag Bauer, Kershaw is back and the Dodgers have too much pitching and firepower at the plate. After all, they are the defending World Series kings, even if the 2020 campaign will always be listed with a big fat asterisk.
National League Central
Division Champions, Milwaukee Brewers
The Brew Crew mirror the Giants in many ways. Solid pitching rotation, scrappy players with good power numbers, and an air-tight defense. This team has few weaknesses, and the potent bat of Christian Yelich is finally starting to heat up.
National League East
Division Champions, Atlanta Braves
Huge haul at trade deadline, including Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario and Joc Pederson among others put the Braves over the top. This club will go as far as its pitching takes them.
NL Wild Cards
First Seed, San Francisco Giants
Just because I think the Dodgers will take the division in a photo finish doesn’t make the Giants less dangerous. This is a team that has led the league in home runs, and not a single slugger has particularly eye-popping numbers. That’s depth, baby. The starting pitching has been above average and the bullpen is adequate. Not a big fan of skipper Gabe Kapler, who took the Giants job after getting canned by the Phillies. But he’s pushed all the right buttons this season and deserves to be Manager of the Year.
Second Seed, Cincinnati Reds
This was a tough pick, as the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals could also slip in the back door. But the Reds have that three-headed monster in Joey Votto, Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos, plus probable Rookie of the Year Jonathan India. With some decent pitching, Cincinnati has just enough horses to get across the finish line.
American League West
Division Champions, Houston Astros
The haters can cry all they want, but the Astros know how to win. A lineup that includes Altuve, Brantley, Bregman, Correa, Gurriel, Alvarez and Tucker is obviously legit. The pitching rotation ain’t too shabby either, while the pen is vastly improved thanks to some deadline trades. Sorry folks, but if the Astros get hot, they could be headed toward another World Series trip.
American League Central
Division Champions, Chicago White Sox
This is a team that gradually took command of it’s division and never looked back. Now we’ll find out what the White Sox are made of when all the chips are on the table. The first order of business is getting everyone healthy, like shortstop Tim Anderson and starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (hamstring injuries) and outfielder Eloy Jimenez (knee contusion). We know this club is a hitting machine, led by Abreu, Yoan Moncada, Leury Garcia and Yasmani Grandal. But Chicago hasn’t been to the post season since 2008, so it remains to be seen how this group of players respond to pressure.
American League East
Division Champion, Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays will prevail again, even though nobody is quite sure why. Yes, this team plays in a funky, quirky stadium. But Tampa Bay players do a lot of little things right that don’t always show up in the box score. Every player in the organization buys into the concept that they are employed by small market club, and winning depends on preparation and execution.
Al Wild Cards
First Seed, Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays got hot at the right time, but that’s really no surprise. Vlad Guerrero, Bo Bichette, Caven Biggio, and Lourdes Gurriel have famous fathers or siblings who have played the game a long time, so they just have fun and enjoy the moment. Toronto also has George Springer and all-star Teoscar Hernandez in the potent line-up, so everybody just hits and hits and hits some more.
Second Seed, New York Yankees
Call me crazy, but Aaron Boone’s club has been through so many injuries and misfortune, I believe they will find a way to turn things around. This Yankees group has too much talent and pride. The Rizzo and Gallo additions will be instrumental in those efforts.
The 2019 playoff format will be used again this year, with 10 teams making the cut instead of last year’s crowded 16 team experiment. Wild Card teams will be playing in a one and done elimination. The winners will then advance to the next round. The post season will begin on October 5th, just two days after regular play ends. The AL Wild Card game will kick off the tournament on ESPN. So fasten your seatbelts, crack open a cold beer and enjoy.
