SEE-SAW BATTLE - PART II

***THIS TIME IT'S THE YANKS TURN***
Obviously, this isn't over. Neither team seems poised to make a big run, so we'll probably see this jockeying for a couple more days until the 4-game set in New York starting Monday. If the Yanks are going to win this thing, they're going to have to hit with men on base. Solo homers and game-winning blasts in the ninth aren't likely to lead to the World Series. But both the Yanks and the Rays will make the playoffs.
Maybe it's my imagination, but it seemed like there were more Yankee fans than Oriole fans in the stands last night. Or maybe they were just louder. Or drank more beer.

***THE PLAYOFF TEAMS ARE BECOMING MORE EVIDENT***
Minnesota has taken charge in the Central, helped by the fact that the White Sox have forgotten how to win, coincidentally when Manny joined the team. A fact not lost on baseball scouts.

Texas still has the very weak West division sewed up. I think their trip to the playoffs will be short lived.

Philadelphia is starting to pull away from the field in the NL East. With a rotation of Oswalt, Halladay and Hamel, they will be the most dangerous team in the NL.

Cincinnati is maintaining a lead in the Central, mostly because the Cardinals seem to have given up. Former player Jack Clark accused them of "quitting" in a radio interview, infuriating manager Tony LaRusso. He took offense at Clark's use of the word "quitter," and hinted that it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Still, LaRusso, the micro-managing king, has to face the fact that the kettle is indeed, black.

Ah, the NL West. This is where the most interesting race is. One team on the way down (SD), one on the way up (Col), and one team in the middle (SF). All three are within a game and a half of each other. Unfortunately, there's a good possibility that only one of them will make the playoffs.

Right now the two strongest candidates for the World Series are Minnesota and Philadelphia.

***GOING OUT IN STYLE***
Bobby Cox's impending retirement hasn't slowed him down one iota. His Atlanta Braves will probably make the playoffs, even if they don't last past the first round. He also added to his ejection record by getting the heave-ho last night. As usual, he got his money's worth, arguing with both the home plate and the 1st base umpires. I hope Girardi was watching.

***INTERESTING ARTICLE ON THE YANKS FARM SYSTEM**
It seems that talent evaluators think the Yanks have an unusually large stockpile of pitching talent. They feel that there are at least three pitchers who project to top-of -the-rotation starters:
Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances and Hector Noesi.
Three who will be bottom-of-the-rotation starters:
Brett Marshall, Manny Banuelos and Adam Warren.
There are three more with great potential but are too new to put a good handle on yet.
Add in Ivan Nova, who's already shown immense ability in the majors and we may not see too many large free agent signings of pitchers in the near future.

***FROM DWIGHT PERRY'S COLUMN***
Seattle Times reader Bill Littlejohn, on the specter of commissioner Bud Selig intervening on behalf of the Dodgers in the McCourt v. McCourt trial: "It could be the first divorce to end in a tie."

***TAKING MY LIFE IN MY HANDS***
This little quip from Janice Hough:
"With Andres Torres out, Edgar Renteria has temporarily won the job of Giants leadoff hitter. And he says he will do whatever necessary to reach base. Guess that means he has a call in for acting tips from Derek Jeter."
Also:
"After being released from jail August 2, it was announced Friday that Lindsay Lohan has failed a court-ordered drug test. So congratulations to all those who had 46 days in their office pool."

CP-