The Ups And Downs Of Baseball

No other game in all of professional sports can take a player or a team on as many twists and turns than baseball. That can be mostly attributed to the fact that baseball's 162-game regular season is by far the longest in any sport, but it is the actual game itself that will lift one up to produce great moments and then turn around the next day and drive the same guy into the dirt to humble him.

There are countless examples in the day to day grind, but this is very apparent in the overall big picture as well. All you have to do is take a look at the divison races each year. It always comes down to at least the last couple of weeks in the worst division, and sometimes the last game in september in the best division. It is absolutely vital to keep the finish line in sight and the goal of reaching the postseason right out in front of you throughout the long months of summer.

Every year the fans, media, and even casual sports watchers will bury or praise teams for the efforts 60-70 games into a 162-gme schedule! We all do it because the world is based on evaluations and every business is projecting and trying to predict the future as best as possible.

The basketball legend John Wooden once said, "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It is a weakness to get caught up in either one."

These words ring completely true for baseball, from a teams perspective and a players perspective. Two examples of this come to mind immediately considering how certain teams have been playing lately. There are more example than the two I am thinking of, but these will be fine to make my point.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim got off to the best start in club history and were being discussed on a regular basis with the Red Sox in regards to the best team in baseball. This type of praise was well deserved considering these teams were competing for the best record in the game.

The Angels are currently 57-42 and are holding onto a 2 1/2 game leade over the Mariners. After the first two months of play, we quickly said they have plenty of pitching to carry them and they are the epitomy of team baseball. Not to say that these statements are false, but there is a much different perspective around Anaheim for the past week or so.

The Angels have dropped the last 2 games to the Oakland A's because they have not gotten the pitching that is expected from their rotation, and the offense always struggles when Vladimir Guerrero isn't at his best. I still believe the Angels will win the AL West because they are clearly the best team in their division. The Mariners are, to their credit, playing well beyond their potential and will cool off in the near future as they are already showing signs of slowing down. On the flip side, the Angels are lucky they are still in first place considering how they have played in their last three series against Tampa Bay, Minnesota, and Oakland. It doesn't get easier with Detroit coming to town this weekend.

Now looking at the other side of the baseball world, you have to talk about the Yankees. Practically the entire baseball world was in shock when the Yankees fell 14 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox and most quickly wrote them off saying this would be the first year they have missed the playoffs since Derek Jeter took over at shortstop.

We sure were quick to assume on that one too. The Yankees are currently 53-46 and are 7 1/2 games behind Boston. That is still a substantial gap to close, but nothing is impossible in this game, as the lead has already been cut in half before August. The Yankees offense was struggling, they couldn't buy a healthy pitcher, and all of the critics were laughing because this was finally the chance the lower-payroll teams could watch the Empire suffer. Not so fast there.

The Yankees have won five in a row and 8 of their last 10. The pitching is holding up and getting deeper into games which is only going to aid their depleted bullpen. Philip Hughes is expected to be back within another couple of weeks and that should make the rotation that much stronger. The offense has certainly found its groove as the Yankees are scoring runs like they will be off limits once the month comes to a close.

The Angels and Yankees prove that no matter what end of the spectrum a team may be on before September rolls around, it is not over by any means. That is how the game of baseball works and that is what keeps more and more fans coming to the park and writers sitting in the press box. When it comes down to it, anyone involved with the game is a fan at heart and appreciates the grind of the baseball season. I would never be in favor of shortening it because finding a way to be at your best 162 different days is what makes baseball a remarkable sport.

Not only does the body have to be ready as it is taxed, but there are no medical tests or player evaluations that can attest for the roller coaster ride the mind endures from April through October. The fact is, we can make our best guesses, but thats exactly what they are. Pure guesses. Things change and it is imperative for all teams and players to keep this in mind no matter how they or the team is doing. If everything was so cut and dry, we would not have anything to get excited about down the stretch and there would be no great postseason stories such as Kirk Gibson or Joe Carter. Now tell me one other sport that can offer all of that in the same season?