Mike Freire - MLB Status Check

As of this morning (07-13-18), most of the teams in MLB have played more then 90 games which means that we are approaching the 60% mark for the season (or well over half way).  The Mets are proving to be one of the worst teams in baseball which isn't news at this point.  However, if you take a look at the general standings outside of the sad state of affairs with the "orange and blue", there are some interesting story lines that are developing across the major leagues.

For starters, let's take a look at the playoff picture in both leagues, if the season ended today.  Keep in mind, I put a projected win total next to each team based on their winning percentage to date.

American League

1.  Boston      112-50
2.  Houston    105-57
3.  Cleveland   88-74
4.  New York   107-55
5.  Seattle      100-62

Your (idiotic) one game "wild card" match up would be Seattle at New York, with the winner traveling to Boston for the Divisional Series and Cleveland would travel to Houston for a similar series.  The winners of those two series would meet in the ALCS, as we all know.

If you take a closer look at the projected standings, you could have FOUR American League teams with at least 100 wins, which is crazy!  Furthermore, your "wild card" game would feature a 100 win team and a 107 win team fighting it out for the right to meet a 112 win team in the next round of the playoff picture.  Regardless of how the final standing end up, you have the potential for an amazing set of playoff series in the AL when October rolls around.

National League

1.  Milwaukee      95-67
2.  Philadelphia   92-70
3.  Los Angeles   89-73
4.  Chicago         94-68
5.  Atlanta          91-71

Your one game "wild card" match up would be Atlanta at Chicago, with the winner traveling to Milwaukee for the Divisional Series and Los Angeles would travel to Philadelphia for a similar series.  As stated above, the winners of the two Divisional Series would meet in the NLCS and the winner of that series would likely serve as cannon fodder for whatever powerhouse American League team that emerges from their scrum, in the World Series.

In stark contrast to the AL picture, the NL teams have projected win totals that are more in line with what we have come to expect year in and year out.  Perhaps there is a bit more parity in the NL (possible), OR a lot of the talent in MLB is concentrated in the AL (likely).

Despite the Mets' lack of success this year, there are teams in other areas that are doing well and they make for an interesting set of stories.  Plus, despite the doom and gloom in our corner of MLB, there will still be a playoff season and a World Series at the end of the year (2015 suddenly seems like a long time ago).

Lastly, since the Mets are no where to be found in the playoff picture, let's take a look at a different set of standings and see how they are doing.  The following standings are the BOTTOM five teams in MLB, or in other words, the teams that are racing each other to the gutter (which also comes with a high draft pick in the next
MLB Draft).

The Bottom Five

1.  Baltimore      45-117
2.  Kansas City   46-116
3.  Chicago        55-107
4.  New  York      66-96
5.  Miami           67-95

Interestingly enough, there are THREE teams already on pace to lose well more the 100 games, which is nearly as crazy as the four AL teams on pace to win that many games.  The three worst teams are in the AL, so the disparity in win/loss totals in that league starts to make more sense.

Furthermore, with a bit more "effort", the Mets and the Marlins could also join the "100 loss club", which would be even more amazing and sad.  Let's hope that this is a one year "blip" on the radar and that the Mets can land a good draft pick (currently 4th) for their troubles.