Which MLB Playoff Races will come Down to the Wire?

It’s practically an inevitable occurrence within the current landscape of professional baseball; each and every year there are several MLB division races that go down to the last day. Meanwhile, the wildcard race can also crack the playoff door open for several lucky teams while leaving others ruthlessly out of the glorious postseason that encompasses baseball and reminds us why this sport truly is America’s sport. Like any other, this year figures to be a tight contest all the way to the end! Here’s some of the more enticing MLB playoff races on the horizon and how I expect them to pan out:

The AL Central – While the Cleveland Indians seem to be fading and fading fast, the main culprits are going head to head, tooth and nail to the final day! The free-spending Detroit Tigers are the clear choice to win based on their roster and pre-season hopes, but the Kansas City Royals could be the surprise team of the year, and are currently right on their heels. James Shields has been his usual tremendous self, but the collective hitting and unity has seen the Royals play far beyond their talent and has brought about a new level of belief. While everyone is rooting for them, who knows if they’ll be able to muster enough wins to overtake Max Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera, and the rest of the tremendous Tigers. The upcoming 3-game duel between these two clubs this weekend could decide the AL Central division’s fate, though the wildcard certainly presents an outlet for either team, but both know that facing an entire season’s hopes on one game is certainly far from ideal... These teams will desperately want to claim the division. I think the Royals will do it.

The NL West – Between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants a tremendous west coast rivalry has been simmering for years. But while the Dodgers have been spending big to recruit top players in the last few seasons, the Giants are the one with two recent World Series Championships. Nevertheless, with guys like Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez, and Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers are rapidly becoming the team to beat and have been getting hot just in time to claim the division and potentially start a deep playoff run. Meanwhile, the Giants with Buster Posey, Tim Lincecum, and Madison Bumgarner actually have a proven track record of getting hot just in time for the MLB playoffs. The pinnacle series will be early next week between the two sides and could decide their fates, leaving the loser in the dreaded wildcard match. The Dodgers look too good to mess this up, and I suspect they may win it all.

It’ll be interesting to see how these teams fare once the playoffs begin. While other baseball clubs may benefit from being able to rest their players in the last few weeks of the season, teams like the Dodgers, Giants, Royals, and Tigers could benefit from the momentum gained by winning such a tight race. By the time the October playoffs arrive, they’ll be hardened by a full month of living on the edge and could be better equipped to handle the playoff pressure. As such, the winners of these close divisions might just be hoisting the World Series trophy at the end of it all!

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Can Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig Overcome His Questionable Past?

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ young star right fielder Yasiel Puig is certainly one of the most exciting baseball prospects to emerge in the MLB right now, but his constant antics and shady past may greatly hinder his potential success in the sport.  While many people know about his Cuban background, what has recently come to light is a frightening tale of a daring escape and defection from his home country.  With several questionable characters involved in helping Puig reach the glorious diamonds of American baseball, the young slugger may soon have a lot more to worry about than opposing pitches and perfecting his strange base-running habits.

The practice of Cuban baseball players defecting in order to play in MLB is nothing new, but it’s usually a process that happens behind closed doors and rarely ever reaches the eyes of casual fans.  A smuggler basically brings a talented player out of the country in exchange for a large cut of future earnings.  Several people usually help along the way.  The reason we now heard about Puig’s particular experience is because one of the men involved in bringing him here wasn’t paid his expected cut of the earnings.  Angry and desperate, he has taken to popular media to try and get his money.

The Puig camp has been very professional in dealing with the situation; not disclosing any information and simply stating that Puig wants to work hard and win games for the Dodgers.  But sifting beyond all that PC official banter, Puig seems to be a character destined for constant controversy throughout his career.  He has been arrested for reckless driving and punished by the team for showing up late to a game.  He has had several altercations and issues with teammates.  On the field, for every powerful home run or sensational throw from right field there is a corresponding error that leaves everyone’s head scratching.  In short, Yasiel Puig is a loose cannon, and despite all his physical ability may not have the smarts and maturity to handle life in the big leagues.

Perhaps his treacherous journey to America taught him that little things like showing up on time aren’t that important.  But unfortunately, he is now becoming such a heavily scrutinized figure that any slip-up will be heavily analyzed by the press.  Such is the life that surrounds superstar celebrity athletes.  Hopefully Puig is a person that can find strength in his difficult past and use it to become a stronger person.  He is young but there is certainly some incredible talent in this budding star.

What worries me about Puig though is that he has only been with the LA Dodgers for roughly one year, and already his story is reading like something out of a Hollywood script.  What’s next?  Are we going to discover that he is actually older than he says?  Is a future steroid scandal on the horizon?  Baseball is a game chalked full of controversies, and unfortunately Puig comes across as exactly the type of guy liable to be at the center of such a scandal.  Clearly this guy is a risk taker and has no problem standing in the face of authority.  But I suppose all we can do is watch and enjoy his tremendous skill in the meanwhile.  Sure, Puig may become a major source of trouble in the coming years of his career, but until that day comes let’s just sit back and see what wonders he can work for the Dodgers!

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Are the Los Angeles Dodgers Unstoppable?

With a record approaching historic records over the last 50 games, the Los Angeles Dodgers are beginning to look like the exciting and talented team that everyone expected once their new owners took over. After several high priced acquisitions started to click, and a sensational rookie by the name of Yasiel Puig joined their ranks, the Dodgers are the strongest team is baseball and the front-runners for the 2013 World Series. Is there any hope left for the other contenders?

Of course there is. Pushing the odds against the Los Angeles Dodgers is the fact that they haven’t been to the MLB Playoffs since 2009. But that’s about it. Right now the talent on this team is pretty incredible, and whether or not they win it all this year, the Dodgers will become a familiar team in playoff baseball come every October.

 

Their starting pitching is formidable. Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu are all pitching very well and each have over 10 wins on the season. Relief pitching has been solid, and incoming closer Brian Wilson could figure into the mix in the latter stages of the season.

 

But the most exciting part of the Dodgers has been the hitting. Yasiel Puig has been sensational and may figure to become the premier hitting talent of the new generation. His .352 average is among the best in the majors, and his power makes him one of the most dangerous players on the field. His call-up provoked this incredible run for the Dodgers, and he is the heart and soul of the team and its fans. That’s a lot of pressure for any 22-year-old rookie, but so far Puig has carried the team along with confidence and brilliant play. His defensive work is also first rate in the outfield. He can carry this team far.

 

Other hitters have also picked up steam for the Dodgers, including Hanley Ramirez. Although injured for the first half of the season, Ramirez has returned and put up similar numbers to Puig. With two dominant power-hitting players, the Dodgers lineup is menacing.

 

The rest of the team is solid as well. Adrian Gonzalez is a near .300 hitter while up and down the lineup are capable players that hit in the upper .200’s. This makes the team quite solid and well prepared even if Puig stutters in the playoffs due to nerves or the cold weather. The talent is well spread throughout the lineup to handle any potential opponents.

 

So is there any reason to feel that the Dodgers won’t be rumbling and bouncing their way along to the World Series? Surely, October baseball brings about drama and will have its stern tests ahead for the Dodgers. They aren’t the only team with a great record. The Atlanta Braves are solid, as are the Cincinnati Reds, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the St. Louis Cardinals; and those teams are all in for the NL Pennant! But no one is hotter than the Dodgers right now, and I get the feeling that they aren’t slowing down any time soon. It will be a joy to see what baseball’s most exciting team will bring to the MLB Playoffs this year!

 

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Will the Dodgers Current Hot Streak take them to the MLB Playoffs this Season?

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a team on the rise in the 2013 MLB Season. With their new owners attempting a complete revolution of the team, various new All-Star players have been recruited to the historic and proud club, and the Dodgers are feeling upbeat about their long-term goals of winning a World Series Championship. However, things did not start off well for this big-spending baseball club.

 

Highly paid pitcher Zack Greinke was injured early in the year after a silly brawl, forcing him to miss over a month of games. Another big-name pitcher, Josh Beckett, who was hoping to rejuvenate his career in Los Angeles after his successful play with the Boston Red Sox, has had a forgettable 2013. After going 0-5 to start the season, Beckett is now reported to needing season-ending neck surgery, concluding an abysmal early display with the Dodgers.

 

Hitters have also been troubled this year, with both Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez already experiencing stints on the disabled list. All these concerns have resulted in a terrible record for the Dodgers, who are now in last place in the NL West division. However, there is now hope for the team. It comes in the form of Yasiel Puig.

 

Puig was called up to the Dodgers in early June, and he has been a hit ever since. Currently owning a .436 batting average and a stellar highlight reel, no pitcher has been able to figure out the phenomenal young Cuban star. His play seems to have elevated the other players to new levels, with Hanley Ramirez hitting well and a strong improvement in the pitching quality.

 

Another bright prospect on this team is relieving pitcher, Jose Dominguez. Just making his MLB debut, Dominguez reaches 100 MPH on his fastball and put in a strong showing in a single inning of work. For the team that has suffered to produce solid relief pitching, this could be another bright addition to the squad. On a current 8-2 streak, the Dodgers look to be pushing upon the NL West leaders and are forcing themselves back into contention for a division title.

 

The Dodgers expect greatness, and their payroll is certainly suggesting that winning their division should be an expectation, not just a hope. The NL West is a tricky division though. The San Francisco Giants have won two recent World Series titles but typically maintain an average record season-long until they get hot in the fall. Currently, they are hovering around with a 39-42 record, but I wouldn’t expect that to last.

 

The Arizona Diamondbacks are currently the best team in the NL West with a 42-39 record. With a young and strong roster, the Diamondbacks are looking good, but will their lack of experience haunt them by season’s end? This division is also incredibly tight, with the last place Dodgers just 4 games back from first place and owning a 38-43 record. If their hot streak lasts, the Dodgers could be on top of this division by mid-July.

 

But baseball is a tricky sport, and there are certainly a multitude of questions surrounding the team that built an enormous early-season hole. Will Yasiel Puig continue to be a dominant hitter or will pitchers finally figure him out? And will the rest of the team maintain their current high level of play? My answer to these questions is yes, and I fully suspect that the Los Angeles Dodgers will make an appearance in the 2013 MLB Playoffs!

 

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