If the baseball season is a foot race, it could only be described as a marathon and not a sprint because each team plays 162 games. During the mid-season break, clubs assess their position in the standings and determine whether they will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. The 2021 Atlanta Braves prove that a contender can become champions because they made the right moves at the deadline and catch fire down the stretch. There are a plethora of storylines heading into the second half, and in this article, we preview the top 5 to watch in the chase for October.
1. Are we heading for a Subway World Series?- Fans in New York will love this headline. Their teams have been outstanding this season with the Mets having a 58-35 record and the Yankees boasting a spectacular 64-28 record. After starting on a historic pace to challenge the 2001 Mariners mark of 116 wins, the Yankees have cooled off in July and are now on pace to win 111 games. However, the Yankees should not worry about that record, the franchise’s goal should be to win the World Series for the 28th time after failing to do so since 2009. Across town, the Mets lead the NL East but have an uncomfortable 2.5 games ahead of the Braves. Buck Showalter is a manager of the year candidate because he has massaged egos and has his team playing crisp baseball. Yes, if both teams keep this up, we could see a rematch of the 2000 matchup for the title.
2. AL MVP-Ohtani vs Judge?-the Yankees are on course for a historic season because Aaron Judge is having a tremendous season with the bat. Judge has led from the forefront in the formidable lineup batting .284 with 33 homers and 70 RBI this season. Judge is poised for a massive payday as a free agent if he completes this season with an MVP nod. Standing in his way will be Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese sensation- who is putting together an unprecedented two-way back-to-back season. Ohtani is showing that he could get even better because he has dominated the past 34 days with a 0.45 ERA, 58 Strikeouts, only 11 walks in 39 2/3 IP, and hitting a .287 average and eight home runs. If Ohtani continues his tier, he could be the first back-to-back MVP since Miguel Cabrera in 2012-2013. The battle of Ohtani and Judge will be must-see tv on a nightly basis.
3. Will the Mariners end their playoff drought?- the famous movie in the city is titled Sleepless in Seattle, and it is an apt description of what will happen for the next two months in the Pacific Northwest. The last time the franchise made the playoffs was the same historic 2001 season. Yes, it has been 22 years since the club has taken the field in the playoffs. That’s a bad stat! The team has a 49-42 record and owns the second wild card spot. The team is led by two top pitchers, Robbie Ray and Logan Gilbert, and an exciting rookie All-Star in Julio Rodriquez. The club and fans will be sleepless until they get the job done and punch their ticket to the postseason.
4. Will Juan Soto get traded? – Juan Soto can only be viewed as a generational talent in baseball. A left-handed power hitter and corner outfielder who still is only 23 years old. The Washington Nationals tried to lock up Soto by offering a mammoth 15-year, 440-million-dollar deal. Surprisingly, Soto turned down the offer, and reports indicate it would make him the 15th highest earner per annum in the league. In a petty move, the Nationals did not charter a flight for Soto to get to the All-Star festivities and forced him to take a commercial flight that landed late on the West Coast. Soto went on to showcase his talent on limited sleep by winning the Home Run Derby to rub it in the Nationals’ grill. It is evident that Soto will get traded, and the big market contender that pays the ransom for his service will be in a great position to win the pennant.
5. When will Fernando Tatis make his return?- Fernando Tatis is a game-changing player that can turn around a season. He brings excitement and flair to a team that has fallen off the pace in the division. In each of the past two years, Tatis has finished top five in NL MVP voting but has yet to play this season after fracturing his left at the end of spring training. The Padres have hung in the mix for the wild card in Tatis’ absence, and to get him back at the end of July would feel like acquiring a superstar at the trade deadline. Can the Padres be the 2021 Braves and make a historic run to the title? Only time will tell.
What do you make of my top storylines for the second half? What is your favorite storyline that you will be following? Let me know in the comment section.