Is this Summer flying by or what? It seems like only yesterday that we were in Murfreesboro broadcasting the final high school baseball game of the season as the Bears lost a heartbreaker in the Sub-State and now here we are in the middle of July and the countdown to the first football game is on. My wife tells me that it is just old age, but I prefer to think that I am just having too much fun. Anyway, let's get down to business and talk a little baseball.

     It's time for my annual mid-summer Major League Baseball report card and as usual there were many surprises and dissappointments in the first half of the season. Let's start in the American League. In the A.L. East and really all of baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays (see what can happen when you throw the Devil out of your life) have shocked us all. They were supposed to be improved, but not a half a game out of first at the All-Star break. Young starting pitching is the key and they've got it. They lost seven in a row to end the first half, which concerns me, but I think they will be right in the thick of the wild card race the rest of the way. I think the Red Sox will run away and hide with the East while the Yankees will continue to struggle, but still have a chance at a wild card.
     The Red Sox and Rays get an A in the first half while the Yanks get a C- and Toronto and Baltimore get D's.

     In the A.L. Central, the White Sox are back on top where they should be. Minnesota is another surprise as they traded one of the best pitchers in baseball, Johann Santana to the Mets, but just keep right on winning. The Tigers were a big dissappointment in the first half, but they are lurking about and have the horses to make a run in the second half.
     White Sox and Twins get an A-, Detroit a C while the Royals and Indians a D-. Cleveland is also one of the biggest dissappointments in the first half.

     In the A.L. West, the Angels are going to win going away and some folks think that they could be a favorite for the fall classic. They get a B+ while Oakland and Texas get C's and Seattle gets a D-.

     In the National League, as predicted the Cubs are the team to beat. I said it in March and I'll say it now. This is the year of the Cub. The curse is over, mark it down. It won't be easy though, as the pesky Cardinals and the Brewers are going to stay close the rest of the way. A lot of the experts think that CC (no periods please) Sabathia will put the Brewers ove the top. I don't think so. He will, however keep them in the wild card race to the end.
     Cubs get an A, Cardinals a B+, Milwaukee a B, Cincinnati a C while the Pirates and Astros get a D. The Astros also go on the biggest dissappointment list.

     In the N.L. East, it looks like a three team dogfight to the death. The Mets should have the edge, but they can't seem to get along. The Phillies have the tallent, but not much pitching and the Marlins could sneak up on eveyone and win it. You'll notice I didn't mention the Braves. They're done, stick a fork in them. The offense has really let the Braves down this year. How do you lose 24 one run games in a year, much less a first half? No clutch hitting, that's how. ZERO. It's pitiful. The Braves will do well to finish at .500.
     The Phils, Mets and Marlins get B's, the Braves get a C- and the poor old Nationals get a D.

     In the N.L. West, it will be a winner by default. The Diamondbacks have the best team, but have woefully underachieved. How can you be one game under .500 and in first place at the break? Because the other teams in the division are worse than you are.
     Arizona gets a C, the Dodgers and the Giants a C-, while Colorado and San Diego both get a D and a spot on my biggest dissappointment list.

     Well there you have it folks. Here's my fearless predictions for the playoffs. Phillies, Cubs and Diamondbacks with the Mets taking the Wild Card in the N.L. In the A.L., Boston, Chicago and the Angels with Tampa taking the Wild Card.
     I see Boston and the Cubs in the World Series with the curse being tossed with a Cubs win in six games.

     That's enough rambling for now, as always, thanks for reading and may God bless.