Over the last few seasons, no team has dominated June like the Oakland A's. 2006 is proving to be no different, as the A's are off to a 14-2 start this month and have won 10 straight as they head out on a 9-game road trip through the NL West, including one of those Giants-A's matchups that make interleague action bearable.
Still, you can't count out the Texas Rangers, who are currently 1/2 game behind the A's. The most stunning development in Texas has been the offense supplied by Gary Matthews, Jr. In a lineup that features bonafide MVP candidate Mark Teixeira and slugger Hank Blalock, Matthews leads the Rangers in OPS (.959), thanks to his 25 doubles, 4 triples and 7 HRs.
Who would've thought Seattle would be within 5 games of 1st place after Father's Day? Richie Sexson still isn't hitting, but Ichiro is going after his own single-season hits record and Jose Lopez is the best second baseman you've never heard of. The rotation is starting to pitch up to their abilities, and somehow, the bullpen hasn't been catastrophic.
The most shocking team in the AL West, even more than the respectable Mariners, has been the woeful Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. For them to send Jered Weaver, their best starting pitcher over the last few weeks, to the minor leagues was a decision I have hard time understanding.
The Other Races
The Yankees late-inning collapses in DC opened the door for the Red Sox to jump back into 1st place. Toronto ran into a hot Marlins team, keeping the Jays 3 games back in the AL East.
Detroit and Chicago appear set to give us an exciting division race this summer, one which Minnesota (winners of 7 straight) would love to be a part of. Cleveland is now closer to the Royals than they are the White Sox, which is not a good sign. When will the "they're too young" excuse get old?
The Mets have a very safe lead in the NL East, and could get some help from their NY roommates this week, as the Phillies host the Yankees this week. Who would've thought that neither Washington nor Florida would be in last place right now? Even more surprising is that the current cellar dwellars are the Atlanta Braves.
The Cardinals are close to getting Albert Pujols back, and they seem to have weathered the storm nicely. They've managed to open a 5.5 game lead on the Reds, and the Astros and Brewers are still over a touchdown away.
The NL West is still tighter than Al Nipper's pants, with 2 games separating all 5 teams. I'm still baffled at how poorly the Diamondbacks have played since the Grimsley incident a few weeks ago, and I'm starting to wonder if they'll ever turn it around. Even Brandon Webb is starting to get knocked around a bit, and that's not a good sign. Someone in that clubhouse needs to step up and right the ship.
The Week Ahead
More interleague fun! And this time, there are some series actually worth watching.
NY Yankees at Philadelphia (6/19-6/21). The Yankees had a very hard time in the District over the weekend and are hoping Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina can go out there and give the bullpen a break.
St. Louis at Chicago White Sox (6/20-6/22). The NL Central leaders take on the defending World Champs. That's appealing. I just wish Pujols was available for a series in that park.
Cincinnati at NY Mets (6/19-6/22). It's not an interleague series, but it's an important series to the NL playoff race. The Reds are struggling (lost 3 straight) and it won't get any easier for them.
The World Cup
I'll admit it: I'm hooked on the World Cup. Sure, the players can't use their hands, and the players flail to the ground at the slightest hint of any contact, but after watching the US-Italy match on Saturday afternoon, I am officially a fan of futbol.
Am I going to start going to MLS games, or subscribing to the English Premier League package on DirecTV? Probably not. But I appreciate the skill of the players, the strategy of the game and the undeniable passion of futbol fans across the world.
I'll be glued to the ESPN gamecast of the US-Ghana match on Thursday morning, and I hope that the United States wins (and Italy defeats the Czechs) to advance to the 2nd round. It's astonishing that this game still hasn't caught on in the States, but people driving around in a circle has.
Oh, and if you're like me, and you spent the weekend watching the World Cup, you most likely have the song from the Adidas commercial (Jose +10) stuck in your head. It's called "If You Don't Give My Football Back" by Jim Noir, a solo artist from Manchester, England.
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