The List: Where are they now?
Published 12:00 am Sunday, May 28, 2006
The Selma Times-Journal
Just for laughs, I found out how last year’s Major League playoff teams are doing now that we’re more than a quarter into the season.
Then I found out there wasn’t a lot to laugh about.
Braves
Last year: 90-72, NL East champs (again), Lost in Division Series (again)
This year: 26-23, second in division
I didn’t think they could get any younger, but somehow this team got painted in a new shade of green.
And if you’re still not worried about the Mets, now would be a good time to start.
Yankees
Last year: 95-67, AL East champs, Lost in ALCS
This year: 28-20, second in division
Same old story with the Pinstripers. Great offense. Good bullpen. Shaky starting pitching.
Cardinals
Last year: 100-62, NL Central champs, Lost in World Series
This year: 32-17, first in division
Albert Pujols is swinging the bat like some kind of mutant, and the Cards have broken in the New Busch Stadium with the NL’s best home record (18-7).
White Sox
Last year: 99-63, Al Central champs, World Series champs
This year: 32-17, second in division
I wouldn’t worry about being 2 1-2 games behind Detroit. The Tigers are far too inexperienced to keep this up.
Jim Thome is a monster once again (18 HRs in 168 at-bats), but is anyone is talking about Jose Contreras for the Cy Young Award (5-0, 1.83 ERA)?
Padres
Last year: 82-80, NL West champs, Lost in Division Series
This year: 25-24, last in division
No one counted on current division leader Arizona and fourth-place Colorado being such overachievers.
Speaking of the Cy Young, Brandon Webb (8-0, 2.18) is an absolute hoss.
Angels
Last year: 95-67, AL West champs, Lost in Division Series
This year: 21-28, third in division
Vladimir Guerrero has 13 homers, but the next closest man has six.
Their best pitcher, Bartolo Colon, is winless in just two starts (7.07 ERA).
Plus, they can’t figure out if they want to be called the Los Angeles Angels, the Anaheim Angels, or the Anaheim-Los Angeles of California and the Pacific Time Zone Southern West Coast Angels.
Astros
Last year: 89-73, NL Wild Card, Lost in World Series
This year: 26-25, fourth in division
They were in worse shape this time last year and still went to the World Series. But this isn’t last year. Cincinnati has a healthy Ken Griffey Jr. and better pitching, and Milwaukee has a bunch of young players that don’t know they should be doormats right now.
Red Sox
Last year: 95-67, AL Wild Card, Lost in Division Series
This year: 30-18, first in division
If there’s one thing that will allow them to win the division, it’s better players all the way up the middle of the defense – even Johnny Damon’s replacement in center field, Coco Crisp.
George L. Jones is a staff writer for the Selma Times-Journal. He can be reached at .