Other than the Giants battling the D-Rays, Astros, Pirates, Marlins, Orioles, White Sox and Royals for worst record, there are a few interesting races left to follow. I’ve ignored everything non-Giants-related the past few days, so imagine my surprise to see:
* The Yankees 1 1/2 behind the Red Sox.
* The Phils 2 1/2 behind the Mets.
Holy Gotham drama, Sam-Bat man. The Red Sox collapse is due in part to their acquisition of Eric Gagne, who has gag-kneed up several leads since the trade. The Yankees resurgence is due in part to the young pitchers they’ve brought up from double-A. The modern-day Murderer’s Row of a lineup they have doesn’t hurt, either.
The NL West isn’t over, either, with the Pads and D-Backs neck and neck. With all the pissing and moaning over Bochy playing the Giants vets to “respect the pennant race,” it turns out he snuck in quite a bit of youth on the road trip.
In the last six games, Winn and Feliz started almost every game, but Durham and Aurilia got only 9 ABs each, Klesko only 2. Meanwhile Ortmeier got 18 at-bats, Schierholtz 18, Frandsen 16. The only youngster who got short-sheeted was Davis, with 9 ABs. Bochy even worked Velez and McClain into a couple games each.
Other than a Giant lineup with Eugenio Velez hitting leadoff this weekend, who else will you be rooting down the stretch? Yankees? Brewers? A phrenetic Phillies phinish? Personally, I’d like to see the Cubs in the World Series, just for the atmosphere. Discuss.
