A Few Thoughts for the Second Half of the MLB Season
The All Star game is over, as the AL won yet again, which means that the AL will have the home field advantage in the World Series, but let’s take a look at some thoughts on the 2nd half of the season.
Phillies land Pedro
3-time Cy Young award winner Pedro Martinez has recently agreed to a 1 year$1 million dollar contract to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies for the rest of the season. The Phillies have been hovering a little over .500 for most of the first half and were leading the NL East for most of the first half, but they ended the first half on fire, as they won 9 of 10 games, had a 5 game winning streak, and now lead the NL East by 4 games. However, while the Phillies offense was legit in the first half scoring the most most runs in the NL their pitching was holding them back, as they have the 3rd highest team ERA (4.61) in the NL. With the signing of Pedro the Phillies hope that he can help a rotation that has struggled all season. Pedro will really help the Phillies if they make the playoffs, especially if he is healthy.
Will Roy Halladay be Traded?
Haladay, who was the All Star game starter and is having a great season, (10-3 2.85 ERA), has recently stated that he does not believe the Blue Jays are close enough to being a contending club to convince him to stay. He has a no-trade clause in his contract, but now it looks as if he will waive that clause if he is traded to a contender. Many teams would be interested in Halladay’s services and the rumors are that he may land in Philadelphia.
Is it inevitable that Red Sox and Yankees will make the Playoffs?
It would seem so, but there are other teams that can win the Wild Card in the AL. As it stands now the Red Sox lead the AL East by 3 games over the Yankees and the Yankees are in the lead in the Wild Card race leading the Rangers by 2.5 games, the Rays by 3 games, the Mariners by 5 games, and the White Sox by 6 games. The Rays may have the best chance, as they have scored the 2nd most runs in the AL this season (476) and if they can pick up another starter they have a legit chance to get back to the World Series. However, with how stacked the Red Sox and Yankees are it is hard to imagine that either team will not make the post-season.
Will the Cubs’ Offense Wake Up in the 2nd Half?
The Cubs have allowed the 2nd fewest runs in the NL (353), but they have also scored the 2nd fewest runs so far this season in the NL. They are currently 3.5 games back of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL West. Alfonso Soriano (.233 14 HR 33 RBI) and Milton Bradley (.243 6 HR 21 RBI) have struggled for most of the first half and if their bats do not wake up their pitchers will have to have one hell of a 2nd half for the Cubs to make the playoffs.
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