The 2022 edition of the Los Angeles Dodgers could be the greatest ever. If not for the passing of Vin Scully last month this year could have been perfect.. After a 22-6 August, the Dodgers enter September with 90 wins and an 18.5 game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West. Their magic number to clinch their 9th division title in 10 years is 14. The Dodgers play the Padres six times between September 2nd and September 13th and could very well wrap up the division by then. Then again the Padres are no pushovers. Although Josh Hader proved to be ineffective as the team’s closer after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Milwaukee Brewers, the Friars have won 7 of their last 10 games and have a 2.5 game lead over the Brew Crew for the third NL Wild Card berth.
The Dodgers only need to go 17-16 in September to eclipse their franchise record of 106 wins which they set in both 2019 and 2021. Of course, 106 wins last year wasn’t enough to win the division after the San Francisco Giants’ franchise record 107 wins. In 2022, the Giants are a shell of their former selves. They haven’t had a winning month since April and finished August with 7 straight losses with losses in 8 of their last 10 games. They are now tied for third in the NL West with the Arizona Diamondbacks who last year lost 110 games. A year ago, the D’Backs finished 55 games back of the Giants. This year, the D’Backs and Giants are both 29 games back of the Dodgers. Baseball is indeed a funny game. Perhaps not so funny to the last place Colorado Rockies, but barring a complete disaster in September they will very likely avoid losing 100 games.
The NL East has remained remarkably stable. A month ago, the New York Mets led the Atlanta Braves by 3 games and the Philadelphia Phillies by 9.5 games. Entering, today the Mets lead over the Braves is still 3 games while their lead over the Phillies is now at 10 games. The Mets have led the division the entire season, but the Braves remain ensconced in the first and second NL Wild Card berths. Unfortunately, things have got worse for both the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals. Entering August, they were 17.5 games and 30 games back of the Mets. Now they are 27.5 games and 38 games back of the division lead. The Marlins went 8-20 in August and might very well have fared worse if not for likely NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara who had 3 of their 8 wins last month. Meanwhile, the Nats, less than three years removed from winning the World Series, own MLB’s worst record.
The biggest swing in MLB has occurred in the NL Central. Entering August, the Milwaukee Brewers held a 3 game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. Entering September, the Redbirds now lead the Brew Crew by 6 games. As mentioned previously, the Brew Crew have a greater chance at a NL Wild Card berth. If the Brewers fail to reach the post-season for the first time since 2017 will Brewers manager Craig Counsell be on the hot seat. His contract expires after next season. Unlike the Brewers, however, the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates have no chance for post-season in 2022. The Cubs actually have a winning record since the All-Star Break (21-18) while the Reds have escaped the fate of eclipsing the 1962 New York Mets. The Pirates, however, have the worst record in MLB since the All-Star Break with a 10-27 record. The Bucs were annoyed when Boston Red Sox broadcaster Dennis Eckersley referred to the team as “a hodgepodge of nothingness”. While they might not have enjoyed hearing that they have not demonstrated otherwise.
While the New York Yankees remain atop the AL East their lead has shrunk considerably. Their 10-18 record in August was nearly as bad as that of the 9-19 “hodgepodge of nothingness” known as the Pittsburgh Pirates. Although the Yankees have managed to win 6 of their last 10 games their lead now stands at 6 games. A month ago, it was 11.5 games and it is enough for Yankees fans to want Aaron Boone fired immediately. The Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays have exchanged spots in the division but both currently own two of the three AL Wild Card berths while the Baltimore Orioles are only 2 games back of the Jays for the third AL Wild Card berth. Despite trading away Trey Mancini and closer Jorge Lopez, the O’s proved their 16-9 July was no fluke by going 17-10 in August. However, if they don’t make the post-season how much of a factor will those trades have made? But at least the Orioles still have September. The Boston Red Sox, while in little danger of losing 100 games, are already looking to 2023.
Over the past month, the division lead has switched in the AL Central. At the beginning of August, the Minnesota Twins led the Cleveland Guardians by a game. Now the Guardians lead the Twins by 1.5 games. A month ago, it was a three team race. Now the jury is very much out on the Chicago White Sox who have lost 10 of their last 13 games going from 1 game back of the division to 5 games off the pace. Now manager Tony La Russa is out indefinitely with health problems with bench coach Miguel Cairo taking the helm. Will the Chisox have a September surge under Cairo? Or is the White Sox organization in denial? However, the Chisox have a chance. The same cannot be said of either the Kansas City Royals or the Detroit Tigers, the latter of whom is only marginally better than the Oakland A’s who own the worst record in the AL.
The A’s find themselves 35 games back of the Houston Astros who will invariably clinch their sixth AL West title in seven seasons. The Astros are 11.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners. But barring a complete sinking, the Mariners will end their 21-year post-season drought. The Texas Rangers are an organization in transition having fired both manager Chris Woodward and longtime GM Jon Daniels last month. So too are the Los Angeles Angels amid news last week that owner Arte Moreno is planning to sell the team. As for the A’s, their team is such that there is more action going on in the stands than on the field.
So what will come of September and early October? Will the Dodgers break the MLB record for games won in a single season? Can the Padres hold off the Brewers for the last NL Wild Card berth? Can the Braves catch the Mets in the NL East? If they do will it matter to the Phillies? Or for that matter to the Cardinals? Will Yankees fans still call for Aaron Boone’s head if they regain a double digit lead for the AL East? Can the Orioles earn an AL Wild Card berth? If they do will it be at the expense of AL East rival Jays or Rays or will they prolong the Mariners post-season drought? Can the Chisox get back into the AL Central race with the Guardians and Twins? We shall see come Game 162.
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