Playing With Fire: Who's Hot v. Who's Not (Team Edition)
Although MLBFO is primarily a fantasy baseball website, we still like to keep some focus on baseball in general, as a sport. Therefore, I decided to take a look at the standings this week to cover some of the hot and cold teams in baseball. Each of the teams below are sorted by their performance in their last ten games leading up until today, featuring the 7-3 and 3-7 teams.
7-3 teams
Baltimore Orioles: Just two weeks ago, the O's were on a 5 game losing streak, and lost 7 of their last 8. Now they find themselves just four games out of first place, after taking three of four from KC, sweeping the Red Sox in two games, and will attempt to take two of three from the Yankees later today. No one expected Baltimore to be ahead of the Yankees in the standings at any point in the season, much less over .500.
Chicago White Sox: Not only have the White Sox been able to win 7 of their last 10, but they spent most of their last 10 on the West Coast, where they have always failed miserably. After sweeping the Giants over the weekend, they will take on Cleveland once again tonight to complete back to back sweeps. The South Siders hold a 7 game winning streak and a 2.5 game lead over the Twins in the AL Central. This race could go down to the wire.
Atlanta Braves: The Braves have been stepping it up when it really matters lately. Most would argue this is the most important month in the Braves schedule battling a variety of solid teams including the Mets, Phillies, A's, Brewers, and the Diamondbacks. The Braves sit 1.5 games behind the slowing Marlins and are on the verge of a 4 game sweep of the Mets. If you think the Braves are hot now, wait until Soriano, Gonzalez, and Smoltz come back and solidify their bullpen which has been lacking. Interesting fact: xW-L (expected win-loss record based on runs scored and allowed) thinks the Braves should have won four more games than they have so far. This means one run games have been crucial, and lacking in wins.
3-7 teams
New York Yankees: The Yankees have been an all around mess in the last week. The defense is lacking as well as the pitching, as it has been all year. The Yanks find themseleves 7.5 games out of first place in the AL East right now behind the Red Sox. Their last two consecutive wins came 2.5 weeks ago. At this point, there is little hope for the Yanks with their devestating pitching staff, but maybe they can figure things out before the East gets too out of hand.
Oakland Athletics: In the past month, the A's have gone from one of the hottest teams to one of the coldest. Just a few short weeks ago there was hype of their success and whether or not they would be able to keep it up. They haven't won a series in 2 weeks and take on Boston this weekend in an attempt to recover. It's unlikely the wildcard will come from the AL West, and the Angels seem to have the division locked up with more and more guys coming off the DL.
San Francisco Giants: The 3-7 record is decieiving here since two of the wins come from another 3-7 team (the Rockies). The Giants are so cold right now, they were recently swept by the Pirates. Enough said.
Colorado Rockies: The Rockies luck is running low after last years postseason run, mostly due to a terrible pitching staff. Although guys like Matt Holliday are still producing, the Rockies have been off to a terrible start this year. The one bright spot was a recent series v. the Twins in which the Rockies took two of three games. They are already 10.5 games out of first though, so a comback is improbable, but still possible.
San Diego Padres: The Padres are our third 3-7 team in the NL West. Man this division is terrible. So far this year, the Padres can only beat the other cellar dwellers. Peavy is now on the DL, and if he has any other injures, my guess is that he will be shut down for the rest of the year. Already sitting 12 games out of first, its highly unlikely for a comeback, especially if the offense is going to continue its standstill.
7-3 teams
Baltimore Orioles: Just two weeks ago, the O's were on a 5 game losing streak, and lost 7 of their last 8. Now they find themselves just four games out of first place, after taking three of four from KC, sweeping the Red Sox in two games, and will attempt to take two of three from the Yankees later today. No one expected Baltimore to be ahead of the Yankees in the standings at any point in the season, much less over .500.
Chicago White Sox: Not only have the White Sox been able to win 7 of their last 10, but they spent most of their last 10 on the West Coast, where they have always failed miserably. After sweeping the Giants over the weekend, they will take on Cleveland once again tonight to complete back to back sweeps. The South Siders hold a 7 game winning streak and a 2.5 game lead over the Twins in the AL Central. This race could go down to the wire.
Atlanta Braves: The Braves have been stepping it up when it really matters lately. Most would argue this is the most important month in the Braves schedule battling a variety of solid teams including the Mets, Phillies, A's, Brewers, and the Diamondbacks. The Braves sit 1.5 games behind the slowing Marlins and are on the verge of a 4 game sweep of the Mets. If you think the Braves are hot now, wait until Soriano, Gonzalez, and Smoltz come back and solidify their bullpen which has been lacking. Interesting fact: xW-L (expected win-loss record based on runs scored and allowed) thinks the Braves should have won four more games than they have so far. This means one run games have been crucial, and lacking in wins.
3-7 teams
New York Yankees: The Yankees have been an all around mess in the last week. The defense is lacking as well as the pitching, as it has been all year. The Yanks find themseleves 7.5 games out of first place in the AL East right now behind the Red Sox. Their last two consecutive wins came 2.5 weeks ago. At this point, there is little hope for the Yanks with their devestating pitching staff, but maybe they can figure things out before the East gets too out of hand.
Oakland Athletics: In the past month, the A's have gone from one of the hottest teams to one of the coldest. Just a few short weeks ago there was hype of their success and whether or not they would be able to keep it up. They haven't won a series in 2 weeks and take on Boston this weekend in an attempt to recover. It's unlikely the wildcard will come from the AL West, and the Angels seem to have the division locked up with more and more guys coming off the DL.
San Francisco Giants: The 3-7 record is decieiving here since two of the wins come from another 3-7 team (the Rockies). The Giants are so cold right now, they were recently swept by the Pirates. Enough said.
Colorado Rockies: The Rockies luck is running low after last years postseason run, mostly due to a terrible pitching staff. Although guys like Matt Holliday are still producing, the Rockies have been off to a terrible start this year. The one bright spot was a recent series v. the Twins in which the Rockies took two of three games. They are already 10.5 games out of first though, so a comback is improbable, but still possible.
San Diego Padres: The Padres are our third 3-7 team in the NL West. Man this division is terrible. So far this year, the Padres can only beat the other cellar dwellers. Peavy is now on the DL, and if he has any other injures, my guess is that he will be shut down for the rest of the year. Already sitting 12 games out of first, its highly unlikely for a comeback, especially if the offense is going to continue its standstill.
