In The Hunt

 Aug 18, 2008

Sizing Up the Competition

For the next 3 weeks, it’s nothing but heated competition against division rivals for the Toronto Blue Jays. With 37 games remaining in the season, there are 30 to play against American League East teams.

Things are actually looking pretty favourable for Jays down the stretch; they have a 21-20 record against division rivals this year. Aside from the Rays and the Orioles, every other team in the division is basically playing .500 baseball against each other:

Tampa Bay Rays                   28-19
Boston Red Sox                     21-23
New York Yankees                 23-22
Toronto Blue Jays                21-20
Baltimore Orioles                    19-28

The difference from 2007 to 2008 is that there are now three teams the Blue Jays have to look out for in the pennant race. What used to be a three-horse race with the Yankees and Red Sox, has now turned into a four-horse race with the Tampa Bay Rays contending. It just so happens that the Blue Jays have had the most trouble with the Rays in their own division:

vs. the Tampa Bay Rays      3-8
vs. the Boston Red Sox         6-2
vs. the New York Yankees     4-5
vs. the Baltimore Orioles        8-4

So if the Jays don’t end up contending for the Wildcard, they can at least play spoiler to another team in the division. This week would be a great opportunity to deliver a knockout punch to the Yankees’ playoff hopes. Don’t completely count out the Yankees yet, but they are on the brink of losing their chance to play October baseball.

 Oh how sweet it would be for the Blue Jays to be responsible for the Yankees not making the playoffs this year. It would almost be as gratifying as the Jays making the playoffs themselves. May the best team(s) win!

Questions, comments - I’d love to hear what you think. Send them to ihunter@blackburnradio.com. For “In the Hunt”, I’m Ian Hunter.