Scoreboard watching isn’t exactly the rage at the ballpark these days. If anything, 2009 is becoming the year of the Playoff Stroll.
Only two of the six division races haven’t quite been decided, and both the Dodgers and Angels are strong favorites to hold off the Rockies and Rangers, respectively.
The Dodgers have led the NL West since April 19, the Tigers the AL Central since May 10 and the Phillies the NL East since May 19. The Angels took their lead over Texas in the AL West on July 11, and 10 days later the Yankees passed Boston in the AL East. St. Louis surged past the Cubs in the NL Central on Aug. 7, and since then have stretched that lead to 11 1/2 games.
The two wild-card races are better, but just barely. Colorado has led the NL since Aug. 10, with the Red Sox in the AL lead since Aug. 19.
That may just have been the last lead change in the 2009 season. If there’s going to be one in the 3 1/2 weeks that remain, it will be forced by the Rangers, Rockies or — less likely with Tim Lincecum experiencing stiffness in his back — the Giants.
Texas, on track to win 90-plus games for only the fourth time in the franchise’s 49-year history, entered Wednesday two games behind the Red Sox in the wild-card race and 4 1/2 behind the Angels in the West. It has an under-the-radar Cy Young candidate in Scott Feldman, a 26-year right-hander who is 16-4 with a 3.46 ERA, and a Rookie of the Year candidate in shortstop Elvis Andrus.
The Rockies are 61-32 since Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle, the manager who guided the Rockies to their September/October magic in 2007. This seems to be the same kind of situation. They lost closer Huston Street to biceps tendinitis a week ago but lefty Franklin Morales has converted five save chances.
We like excitement with our baseball. We root for the Rangers, Rockies and Lincecum’s healing power.
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Read more of Phil Rogers’ food for thought at chicagotribune. com/hardball.
progers@tribune.com
