Rangers mean business
Acquisition of Lee gives Texas leg up in A.L. West
When Oakland outfielder Rajai Davis heard the Texas Rangers had acquired Cliff Lee from Seattle late last month, he reacted the same way as many others around baseball did.
“They’re trying to make a real run, huh?” Davis said. “They’re not playing around.”
The Rangers may be in the middle of a messy ownership change that includes a rancorous bankruptcy proceeding, but that didn’t stop them from making the first major splash before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Texas added Lee to a team that will carry a 4 1/2-game lead in the A.L. West into the second half of the season, which begins Thursday.
The Rangers are looking for their first playoff appearance since 1999, and adding Lee to a formidable offense lets everyone know they’re serious. Lee was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason starts last year for the Phillies. But more importantly, he was 2-0 against the mighty New York Yankees in the World Series.
So who will be the next team to make a move?
The Los Angeles Angels are looking to add a big bat to stay in contention with Texas, and the A.L. Central-leading Chicago White Sox have similar designs.
“The probability of big guys moving at the deadline is always a risky proposition to try to handicap,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “Things can change from week to week.”
One thing we do know is that the winner of the National League pennant will have homefield advantage for the World Series, after the N.L. beat the American League 3-1 on Tuesday night for its first victory in the All-Star game since 1996.
With tight races everywhere and the powerful Yankees playing for something bigger than just another title, buckle up for what is shaping to be a wild ride over the next few months.
Tight races
No team is running away with anything right now. The biggest lead in any division is the Rangers’ 4 1/2 games over the Angels in the A.L. West.
A few of the more intriguing races:
• A.L. East: Arguably the three best teams in baseball – the Yankees (56-32), Rays (54-34) and Red Sox (51-37) – are fighting for the title and likely the A.L. wild card. The Atlanta Braves (52-36) are the only other team in baseball with a better record than third-place Boston.
• N.L. West: Can Mat Latos, Heath Bell and the remarkably successful San Diego Padres make their two-game lead over the Rockies and Dodgers stand up for another few months?
• N.L. Central: The Cincinnati Reds (49-41) have been the other big surprise, one game in front of star-studded St. Louis at the break.