So far it’s been a very entertaining year of baseball.  The season is over halfway done and it’s time for a look at where the teams stand right now and how off my predictions were from the beginning of the season.  The teams are in order of how I thought they would end up, with their actual current rank next to their name:
AL East 
  1. Yankees – (4th, 51-44) Racked my injuries early they could still make a move.
  2. Blue Jays – (5th, 45-49) Things are not going as hoped in Toronto.
  3. Red Sox – (1st, 58-39) Best team in the AL, but only the Jays are far behind.
  4. Rays – (2nd, 55-41) Finished the first half strong, very hot team for now.
  5. Orioles – (3rd, 53-43) “Crush” Davis is leading the league with 37 HRs.
AL Central
  1. Tigers – (1st, 52-42) An amazing 3-4 combo in Cabrera & Fielder.
  2. Indians – (2nd, 51-44) Holding their own so far, but not a tough division.
  3. White Sox – (5th, 37-55) I didn’t think they’d be great, but wow.
  4. Royals – (3rd, 43-49) Doubt they’ll make much noise in the second half.
  5. Twins – (4th, 39-53) Quickly becoming a throw-away team.
AL West
  1. Rangers – (2nd, 54-41) Only two games back, I still see them as the West winners.
  2. Angels – (3rd, 44-49) With their lineup they shouldn’t be this bad.
  3. Athletics – (1st, 56-39) Didn’t see them repeating last year, but so far so good.
  4. Mariners – (4th, 43-52) Sometimes I forget there’s a team in Seattle.
  5. Astros – (5th, 33-61) Just as awful as advertised.  It’s sad really.
NL East
  1. Nationals – (2nd, 48-47) Surprised that they’re this mediocre.
  2. Phillies – (3rd, 48-48) Don’t think this team in making a playoff run.
  3. Braves – (1st, 54-41) A tenacious team that’s beating my expectations.
  4. Mets – (4th, 41-58) As bad as expected.  I guess it’s a rebuilding year.
  5. Marlins – (5th, 35-58) Well hey, at least they’re not as bad as the Astros.
NL Central
  1. Reds – (3rd, 53-42) Good team with the bad luck of being in the NL Central.
  2. Cardinals – (1st, 57-36) Best team in the NL, great all-around play.
  3. Brewers – (5th, 38-56) Surprised by how bad they’re playing.
  4. Pirates – (2nd, 56-37) It’s about time for a second half collapse.
  5. Cubs – (4th, 42-51) A annual non-contender that just doesn’t matter.
NL West
  1. Dodgers – (2nd, 47-47) Did not think they’d be at .500 at the half way point.
  2. Giants – (4th, 41-53) A weird division that the Giants could still win.
  3. Rockies – (3rd, 46-50) A losing record but only a few games out of first.
  4. Diamondbacks – (1st, 50-45) Doing good for now, but this division is wide open.
  5. Padres – (5th, 42-54) The only team that I would count out.
Most improved teams: Blue Jays, Indians, Rockies. (The Indians, Red Sox, and the Pirates are playing well; the Blue Jays and Rockies aren’t as improved as I thought they would be.)
Least successful teams: Astros, Marlins, Padres. (All very bad teams, but add the White Sox and the Twins to the list of awful clubs this year.)
World Series: Rangers vs Dodgers. (Rangers vs Cardinals seems more likely right now, but it could easily be the Red Sox or the Tigers that the Red Birds face in October.)

By ochippie

Writer, Critic, Dad Columbus, Ohio, USA Denver Broncos, St. Louis Cardinals Colorado Avalanche, Duke Blue Devils