Fightin' PHILS in 1st no Surprise....BOMBERS n CARMINES battling..... The D riding VERLANDER.....GIGANTES holding SERVE

The Mid-Summers CLASSIC is almost upon us and the MLB Races will start to heat up after the BREAK. No Team is running away from their Division and all Teams in the Passengers Seat are in striking distance or the Rear View Mirror I should say.

Let's take a look at all the Divisions and see who is doing damage as the last leg of INTER LEAGUE Play is going on into the HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

NL EAST:

PHILS 49-30
BRAVES 45-35 4.5
NATS 40-39 9
AMAZINS' 39-39 9.5
Fighting FISH 34-44 14.5

OUTLOOK: The PHILS are riding where their CASH is......PITCHING...starters are a combined 38-25 with LEE, OSWALT, and Doc HALLADAY a combined 22-14. The BRAVES will stay close with solid pitching and need to get J HEYWARD in the LINE-UP. Just his presence alone should ignite the BRAVES Offense.
The NATS are a surprisingly 3rd with good solid Pitching and hitting and the AMAZINS' are staying afloat minus all the TURMOIL upstairs. The FISH did themselves in with a double digit losing streak early....and now it will be tough to mount a comeback even in the WILDCARD.

NL CENTRAL:

BREW CREW 44-35
REDBIRDS 41-38 3
RED LEGS 41-39 3.5
BUCS 39-38 4
NORTH SIDERS 32-47 12
STROS 28-41 16

OUTLOOK: The BREW CREW behind the 1-2 of FIELDER and BRAUN are having themselves a season. Throw in some timely starting Pitching from guys like Grienke, Gallardo, WOLF, and Marcum....the BEER MAKERS are in it for the STRETCH. The REDBIRDS will at least be in thew WILDCARD Race with MATT and ALBERT in the MIDDLE of the line-up.
The RED LEGS have above average starting pitching and the NL's Reigning MVP in VOTTO they will be there as well. The PIRATES youth movement no more as they are showing the rest of the Division and NL that we are coming up...and fast.

As for the CUBBIES and STROS.....it's WACKA FLOCKA in CHI CITY....IT'S A PARTY in Wrigleyville and the 'STROS........it's just dammit HOT everywhere in H-TOWN but the STANDINGS.

NL WEST:

GIGANTES 45-34
D-BACKS 43-37 2.5
ROCKIES 38-40 6.5
Boys in BLUE 36-44 9.5
DIEGO 35-45 10.5

OUTLOOK: The Defending WORLD CHAMPS are holding serve in the WEST and they are getting some help as the Rockies and DODGERS were suppose to be there and the ROCKIES pitching isn't where it is suppose to be and the DODGERS have well-documented trouble all over the news.
The D-BACKS are taking full advantage of those 2 struggles and will they catch the GIANTS?......probably not but the NL WILD CARD will be a 4-6 Team race in the end.
As for the 'DRES.....beautiful weather and nice stadium.........................FLAT LINE

AL EAST:

PINSTRIPES 45-31
BOSOX 45-32 .5
RAYS 44-35 2.5
JAYS 39-40 7.5
O'S 35-40 9.5

OUTLOOK: You know the DRILL in the AL EAST........YANKS, BOSOX, and now the RAYS......always will be there. It will come down to who is healthiest coming down the stretch and who can PITCH it and Catch it.

The JAYS and O'S unfortunately can try to stay close but these 3 teams not only chase the division but one of them are usually the WILD CARD setters as well.........OUCH for the rest of the AL.

AL CENTRAL:

THE D 43-36
TRIBE 41-36 1
PALE HOSE 38-41 5
KC 33-46 10
TWINKIES 32-45 10

OUTLOOK: The TRIBE was on fire than reality set in and it's been the VERLANDER SHOW in MOTOWN. Having said all that OZZIE'S BOYS on the South Side of the CHI are CREEPING and trying to get to the MAGIC .500 Line.

The ROYALS are having another disappointing run and at least ROYALS Stadium off of I-35 is 2k11 FAN FRIENDLY to get them to the ol' BALLPARK.

The TWINS have been decimated by the loss of MAUER and they still can get to the front they just have a little more work to do then the OTHERS.

AL WEST:

RANGERS 41-38
HALOS 40-40 1.5
the M's 39-40 2
the SWINGIN' A's 35-44 6

OUTLOOK: No one is going to run away with this division and if it were a 2 pony race I would pick the RANGERS and M's. Both have Pitching and hitting. Injuries will play an important role in who gets to the PLAYOFFS.

The RANGERS dodged a big one in getting HAMILTON back in a timely fashion. It will be a 3-Team race and it's going top be tough because the WILD CARD will come out of the EAST.


NOTE******

the PHILS and BREW CREW have the best HOME RECORDS at 30-13 and 29-11 respectively

Bombers @ BEER TOWN for a 3-game inter-league and CARMINES @ PHILLY for maybe a World Series Preview......all 3 game sets JUNE 28-30