Question:Do the Red Sox need Curt Schilling to go deep into the playoffs?
Answer: No. The Red Sox rotation is as deep as any team's rotation. Even without Schilling, they have a potent rotation that gets the job done, and with Justin Masterson as an insurance policy, this team will not miss Schilling...even in a short best of seven series.

Question:Will the Tampa Bay Rays starting pitching hold up for the remainder of the season?
Answer: Possible, but doubtful. Despite pitching well for most of the season, the Rays rotation does not have many proven starters. While Kazmir is unquestionably an ace, and Shields a bona-fide number two starter, the rest of the staff may be hit or miss. Edwin Jackson has a career ERA of 5.33, and Matt Garza, despite pitching well of late, is still under .500 in his young career. Even one of our favorite players, Andy Sonnanstine, has a 5.43 career ERA. Don't mistake this criticism as a knock against these players, as they're still developing. But all five starters, Kazmir included, have yet to be in a September pennant race, and it is unknown as to how well they'll perform. A trade for a veteran pitcher or two can only help. The Rays can't expect every starter to be successful down the stretch.

Question:Is the Yankees offense good enough to offset their pitching woes?
Answer: No. The Yankees also have young starting pitching that will struggle in a pennant race, and facing the pressure of pitching in New York, so their offense will have to carry the load. It won't happen. Matsui is breaking down, Jeter is starting to show his age, Giambi is hit or miss, Abreu is streaky, Cano plays when he feels like it, and Damon is starting to hurt again. Unless the Yankees swing a deal or two for experienced pitchers, their offense won't get the job done consistently enough for the Yankees to overcome their shortcomings in the rotation.

Question:Can the Orioles remain in the playoff chase?
Answer: No. We have to give them credit. Actually, without fanfare, the Orioles have quietly made some smart trades that have improved their farm system and the team itself. The Bedard deal was a masterful one. While their offense is respectable, it's not good enough to overcome very questionable pitching. The Orioles don't hit for a high enough average to overcome pitching deficiencies. Their starters ERA is above 5.00, and they're having trouble determining who the backend of the rotation guys are. They may hang near .500 for a while, but it won't last into August. But keep an eye on this team next year.

Question:Is the Blue Jays rotation good enough to offset the hitting woes?
Answer: No. This is an exceptional pitching staff, but the Jays have a horrible offense. A good pitching staff can take you only so far. Seaver, Gibson, Carlton, and Marichal couldn't lead this team to the playoffs. If JP Riccardi had assembled even a halfway decent offense, this team would be a serious threat. But he made matters worse, when he cut off his nose to spite his face by cutting a disgruntled, but effective Frank Thomas as their DH. Matt Stairs leads this team in homeruns with eight. Lyle Overbay leads the team in RBI with 32. By comparison, the Orioles have five players with more homeruns than Stairs, and have four players with more RBI than Overbay. You have to wonder what Riccardi is doing?

Question:Can the White Sox hold on to win the division?
Answer: Yes. Two words: Carlos Quentin. He has energized this team, and he gives the White Sox another potent bat. Don't let last year fool you...this is a solid team. Not only can they mash the ball, but of their five starters, the highest ERA is 4.24, which is exceptional. Their bullpen has been nearly un-hittable this entire year. The White Sox have it working, and no one will be able to catch this team in this division.

Question:Do the Twins have the talent to make the playoffs?
Answer: Probably not. Outside of Justin Morneau, this offense isn't much better than the Blue Jays offense. Mauer and Cuddyer seem to have lost their power strokes, and there's just not much pop anywhere else outside of Kubel and Monroe, who hit for low averages which in part negates their power. They have no power pitchers, so opposing hitters are putting balls in play...and sooner or later, that will spell trouble for this staff. This is a solid club, but they're not a playoff club.

Question:Can the Tigers still make the playoffs?
Answer: Yes, but with many reservations. Will they make the playoffs?...that is another matter. The team is not aging gracefully, and although they're playing well of late, it is coming aginst weak NL teams. Their offense is good enough to score ten runs a game, but bad enough to be shut out twice a week. The hitters are very "jeykl/hyde". Outside of Armando Galarraga, their pitching staff has regressed so much so, that what was once a strength is now a liability. It's easy to see why this Tiger team is so streaky. The question is: will they avoid any more prolonged losing streaks. I don't think so, especially if their best starter is an untested rookie.

Question:Can the Royals finish .500 or better?
Answer: No. On paper, this is not an awful team. They should be playing better. Despite winning 9 of 10 games, they're still a 7 games under .500. Alex Gordon and Billy Butler have not become the stars we all thought they'd be. Mark Teahan has not emerged as the stud we thought he'd be following a breakout 2006 season. And Grudzielanek is hampered by injuries. Mike Aviles has been a great find for the Royals, and it's no coincidence that they're playing better since he arrived in KC, but it's just not enough. The pitching staff is average, and they need a better team behind them to be above average. That won't happen this year. This isn't an awful team, but they should be better. A .500 season is doubtful.

Question:Are the Indians good enough to come back and threaten the AL Central?
Answer: No. Outside of Grady Simemore, this team isn't hitting a lick. Their offense is scaring no one. This is a team that has decided to slump all at once. That includes the pitching staff. Sabathia is off his mark, Byrd is off his mark, Carmona is hurt, but when healthy, he was off his mark too. Unless everyone on this team turns it around, they're toast. They do have the talent to make a run, but it's near impossible for the entire team to stop their season long slumber party.

Question:Should the Angels worry about making the playoffs?
Answer: No. They have a reliable, albeit, not spectacular offense that has been helped by a top-notch rotation. Their starting rotation is 39-18. That speaks volumes, and the staff is battle-tested, so the chances of this rotation wilting is near zero. They may need their offense to step it up a notch for the playoffs, but over the course of a full season, the hitting only has to be adequate...which it is.

Question:Can the A's make the playoffs?
Answer: No. Like the Angels, the A's offense has been average at best, and lacks the pop they may need to take the next step forward. Frank Thomas (injured) and Jack Cust are the only two who are capable of putting up big power numbers...and Thomas is aging, while Cust strikes out too often. The pitching has helped carry the A's, despite Joe Blanton being out to lunch this season. But unlike the Angels, most of their staff outside of Harden are not proven winners. Can Duchscherer, a converted reliever continue his success? Will Eveland and Smith continue to keep the A's in ball games? And is Huston Street really a lights out closer? When Street is good, he's very good. When he's bad...the A's lose. Finishing at .500 could be difficult for the A's...let alone making the playoffs.

Question:Can the Rangers finish over .500 this season?
Answer: Yes. They don't have the horses, but they are good enough to take advantage of weaker teams in the AL. The Rangers have Bradley, Hamilton, and Kinsler having career years...and they should only get better if Blalock comes back healthy and hits like he's capable of hitting. As always with Texas, the pitching is scary outside of Padilla, but the Rangers actually \ have a good enough offense that can overcome pitching woes. This team won't finish much higher than .500, buit their offense will give them a chance to stay at or near .500 for most of the season.

Question:Should the Mariners blow this team up?
Answer: Yes. This is a bad club that is not gelling. Sexson appears to be finished, Johjima has forgotten how to hit, Ichiro is starting to look human, Vidro is aging ungracefully, and Beltre is still hitting for power, but at the expense of his average (.238). Their starting rotation is 14-34, and Washburn, Batista, and Silva have a poor track record. They will not turn things around. This team is a mess, and they know it. Expect the bomb to hit before September rolls around.



Court Adjourned!