Standings via MLB.com

Holy first place tie in the AL East, Batman! That’s right… it’s coming down to the wire, we’re on the home stretch and already into October, but two teams with impressive records are holding ground in first place.

Guess who has two thumbs, just clinched a post-season berth, and is sitting in first place in the AL East right now? Hint: you have a two-in-five chance of getting it right.

What did you do this weekend? The Orioles swept the Red Sox, bringing them back into first place and with the potential to win the pennant, and a playoff berth secured with the Angels loss to Texas Sunday night. This is Baltimore’s first playoff berth since 1997. For those of you who can’t do math, well, that was a long time ago, especially if you’re a dog.

The fate of the Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays is very much intertwined at this point. The two teams begin a three-game series Monday night to round out their season. The Rays need to win all three games in order to secure one of the league’s two wild card spots. Currently, the Rays’ elimination number is set at 1, and the team trails Oakland for the wild card.

» Continue reading “AL East Recap: Holy First Place Tie, Batman!”

American League East Standings via MLB.com

New York Yankees

The Yankees fought for a crucial series win over the Rays this weekend  in order to maintain their straddle atop the division, where they currently sit only 1.5 games up over the Orioles.

Veteran ace Andy Pettitte is making his way back to the mound in the Bronx for a start on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Manager Joe Girardi expects to see about 70 pitches out of the 40-year-old southpaw. Pettitte was out of the rotation this season due to a fractured ankle.

Curtis Granderson is on track to join Mickey Mantle for consecutive seasons with 40 homers. Granderson is at number 39 as of Sunday afternoon. Derek Jeter continues to climb in the all-time hits list, and is currently three hits over the great Willie Mays at 3,286.

» Continue reading “AL East Recap: Heating Up & Winding Down”

American League East standings as of Sunday. via MLB.com

New York Yankees

The Yankees are sitting atop the AL East with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles nipping at their heels. Their record is .592, ridiculous, but what’s more, in the National League, both the Nationals (.617) and the Reds (.607) are higher still.

Friendly giant C.C. Sabathia should return to the rotation as soon as Friday’s game against the Indians. Sabathia was assigned to the DL for a second time this season just earlier in the month for elbow tightness, but has begun thrown bullpen sessions.

Switch-hitting first baseman Mark Teixeira is still day-to-day with a wrist injury he sustained at the end of July. Manager Joe Girardi is hesitant to move Tex to the DL, but will if it move seems critical to full recovery.

For more on the Yankees, visit Second Place Is Not An Option.

» Continue reading “AL East Recap: Off To The Races”

AL East Standings as of August 5, via MLB.com

Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays are showing suffering signs of their injuries. Toronto has been without the help of slugger Jose Bautista as well as starters J.P. Arencibia and Adam Lind. But even more devastating is that this weekend also lost both Brett Lawrie and Colby Rasmus to injury. Third baseman Lawrie is day-to-day with a nagging ribcage injury left over from a series in July against the Yankees, and Rasmus strained his groin catching a fly on Friday night’s game in Oakland.

Pitcher J.A. Happ, who was acquired in the 10-man trade with the Astros in late July, should start for the Blue Jays on Thursday against the Rays.

» Continue reading “AL East Recap: More Injuries, More Mending”

Updated! AL East standings via MLB.com

New York Yankees

Good news! I saw a dog today. Also, if you’re a Yankees fan, then you might wanna know that big guy CC Sabathia, who was on the 15-day DL due to a groin strain, should return to the Yanks’ pitching rotation after the All-Star Break.

Also looking up is catcher Russell Martin, who bid adieu to his oh-fer-thirty slump on Saturday. Here’s to his better (second) half of the season. Another Bomber who is looking forward and not looking back on the first half of the season is mighty A-Rod himself, who is only batting .270 with 13 homers thus far.

For more on the Yankees, visit Second Place Is Not An Option.

» Continue reading “AL East Recap: So Long, Farewell, First Half”

AL East Standings via MLB.com

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays did not travel far when they faced the Marlins in Miami, and it seems their hearts were not far from home either, as the Rays completed the series Sunday with a successful sweep.

The Rays ought to keep one eye on first place and one eye in their rear-view mirror, because the AL East is not going to be an easy battle or a peaceful place.

Likewise, Rays pitchers enjoyed some excitement, albeit confusion, during their interleague match-up at-bats. Jeremy Hellickson thought he got the sign to bunt… but wasn’t sure… so he payed a sac bunt instead of swinging for the fences. However, the play ended up working in the Rays favor and allowed Jose Lobaton to score later. Maybe some flashcards will help out Hellboy next time.

Meanwhile, Evan Longoria is on the road to recovery from his hamstring injury, and should begin a rehab assignment as soon as Wednesday or Thursday.

For more on the Rays, visit Cowbell Clankers.

» Continue reading “AL East Recap: Everyday I’m Shufflin’”

American League East standings via MLB.com

Baltimore Orioles

“I think this is going to be a good season for the Orioles!” -Quoth my former roommate, Mary of Maryland, who does not watch baseball, but is proud of her Baltimorean heritage nonetheless. Well, folks, looks like her bold prediction, which was actually made out of snark, disregard for fact, and self-loathing, could actually be right…?

Well, the Orioles are doing a lot right this season. And they only just got all shook up wheh the Rays scooted in beside them at first place. But maybe there could be room for the both of ‘em up top? You’re right, probably not… so go at it, guys.

The Orioles threw a great chunk o’ change at their star Adam Jones (now second-best paid outfielder after Matt Kemp) with an $85.5 million contract extension. Yowza.

The club also did some shuffling of the roster on Friday. Stu Pomeranz and Ronny Paulino were recalled from Norfolk, and catcher Luis Exposito was optioned and Bill Hall was designated for assignment.

For more on the Orioles, visit Charm City Yakyuu.

  » Continue reading “AL East Recap: Things Change, (Things Stay The Same)”

American League East standings via MLB.com

Baltimore Orioles

Will anyone ever believe it? The weekend that the Orioles swept the Red Sox? Not only that, but the Baltimore birds are in first place in the merciless AL-East. Oh, no, not only that… did I mention who currently has the best record in Major League Baseball? It’s time to believe.

The marathon in Massachusetts ran for 17 innings on Sunday, when awesome Adam Jones finally sealed the deal with a 3-run homer that Boston could not match. Shortstop J.J. Hardy had eight at-bats and recorded 5 hits, 2 home runs, and 2 RBI.

In other news, outfielder Nolan Reimold was diagnosed with a herniated disk and will spend time in a rehab assignment before rejoining the club.

For more on the Orioles, visit Charm City Yakyuu.

» Continue reading “AL East Recap: Angry Birds”

AL East standings as of April 8th

Take a moment to digest the standings for the American League East. This is no funny business, no silly April Fools’ Day joke (it would be a week late for that anyway).

Is this the last time in 2012 we will see the teams aligned in this order? I don’t want to pick on any one team (cough) but let’s see how long Baltimore can hold a grip in that first place slot. Please, let’s not jump to any conclusions. This measly three-game sample size is not representative of the whole-season game population.

To kick off our first biweekly recap of the American League East Division, we are going to take a look at some pairs of new acquisitions, and peek at their success (or lack thereof) for their club.

» Continue reading “American League East Division Recap: April’s Fools”

AL East Standings via MLB.com

What went down in the American League East? Who is up, and who is out? Read on to discover what you missed and what to watch out for. New memes, new-bies, new hairstyles, and new match-ups you will not want to miss. All that and more after the jump.

» Continue reading “American League [Of Extraordinary Gentlemen] East Update: 8/15″