Baseball Top Three

1. The Gradual Separation Between the Sox and Yanks

With one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fifteenth inning, Alex Rodriguez may have just put a permanent dagger in Boston's chances at a division title. Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett took the mound yesterday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx at approximately 7:05 eastern standard time. Nearly six hours later, the game remained scoreless. With each passing inning, the intensity heightened, and what started out as a big game for the Boston Red Sox slowly blossomed into something pretty damn close to a must win. But when all was said and done, A-Rod momentarily silenced those who say that he fails to come through in the clutch, and Joe Girardi's New York Yankees expanded their AL East division lead to 4 1/2 games.

The division is still very much in play for Terry Francona's Red Sox. If they manage to win the final two games in the Bronx this weekend, they will sit a mere 2 1/2 games back of New York with a full month-and-a-half to play. However, if Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and company continue to win, the Yankees may deal a serious blow to Boston's playoff odds. This can all change in the next two games, but right now, the Yankees are the team to beat in the American League.

2. Make-or-Break Series in the SoCal Sun for Texas

With all the media attention being poured into the Boston-New York showdown, a gigantic series is flying under the radar. I am talking, of course, about the three-game set between the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels. For Ron Washington's Rangers, this is the biggest series of the year by far. Popular belief suggests that the Angels are the best team in the AL West, while the Rangers are viewed by many as the lovable underdog that has no chance at reaching the playoffs. Not so fast, my friends. I too believe that the Angels are the better team, but it would be foolish to discount a tremendously talented Texas team. After last night's walloping of the Angels, the Rangers are only 3 1/2 behind the Halos, and they are still very much in the hunt for the AL Wild Card. It will be tough for Texas to win today against Jered Weaver, who enters Saturday's game with an 11-3 record. But the Rangers are playing with house money. Nobody expects them to win, and Texas thrives under such low expectations. With proven players Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, and Josh Hamilton, the Rangers simply have too much talent to fold down the stretch. They will stay in this race for the remainder of the season.

3. Cubs or Cardinals? Take Your Pick

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, two great Midwestern rivals, are in the midst of a thrilling pennant race. Coming into Saturday, the Cards have a slim one-game advantage in the NL Central over the Cubs. About a month or so ago it seemed as if Tony LaRussa's team may run away with the division. Albert Pujols was having a season for the record books, and Chris Carpenter was pitching like the Chris Carpenter of old. When the Cardinals acquired Mark DeRosa and then Matt Holliday, it looked like they were the clear-cut favorites to win the division. Then, out of nowhere, the Cubbies charged right back into the thick of the race. The return of Aramis Ramirez lit a fire under Lou Piniella's team. Ramirez has been on fire since his return, and his presence has rejuvenated guys like Derrek Lee and Alfonso Soriano. What we have now is a classic duel to the finish between two old rivals. My money is still on St. Louis, but it should be a fun race between the Cubs and Cardinals.


*Alright folks, I'm off on vacation for the next month. I'll return with my thoughts on the wonderful world of sports in September. And remember..............Go Giants!!!!!