As baseball reaches the pinnacle of the regular season, the division races prove the more things change, the more they really remain the same. Despite early surges from underdogs the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers, teams are assuming familiar roles as the season winds down.
The Chicago White Sox, a perennial hard-luck story, sat atop the AL Central division on Aug. 1 with the best record in baseball. Their 15-game lead over the second-place Cleveland Indians seemed insurmountable. It appeared to be only a matter of time before the Sox clinched their hold on the division title and coasted into the playoffs. But appearances were deceiving.
Less than two months later, the Indians have cut the lead to a mere two-and-a-half games heading into the final week. Chicago's pitching faltered over the last several weeks putting their playoff chances in doubt.
Even baseball's most knowledgeable analysts could not have anticipated the final three games of the regular season at Jacobs Field could determine the winner of the AL Central.
The Chicago-Cleveland match-up will not be the only significant series in this week. The Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim are playing a four-game series in Oakland this week. Although the quest for the AL West title is not as close as either the East or the Central divisions, a four game series between the top two teams could decide the victor.
Under the direction of general manager Billy Beane and coach Ken Macha, the Athletics jumped from last place to first place during the season, securing their typical position near the top of the division. They have cooled off, however, and currently trail in both the division and in the wild card races. Great scheduling provides the A's with a glimpse of hope, as four well-played games against the Angels could send them to the playoffs.
In the AL East, the Boston Red Sox, leading the New York Yankees for 85 of the last 86 games, yielded their seat atop the division to the Bombers. Now the two teams are tied for first place and the regular season finale at Fenway will likely determine the division winner.
Both players and the fans are familiar with a consequential season-ending series between the rivals. A one-game playoff ended the 1978 season, when Yankee shortstop Bucky Dent launched a game-winning homerun over the Green Monster in left field.
The Yankees and the Red Sox last finished tied nine years ago. This time the final three games are much more significant. Depending on how successful the White Sox and the Indians are in their last week, this series could determine which team has something to look forward to in October.
For the first time since the instatement of the wild card in 1994, all four playoff spots in the American League will be determined in the final week of the season. With the exception of the Cinderella Indians or White Sox, the playoffs are likely to be dominated by perennial heavyweights.
