A number of teams made moves in the month of May; the biggest gainers being the Red Sox and Diamondbacks, who posted 19-10 records.   The Brewers went 17-12, which has helped move Milwaukee toward the top of the very pedestrian NL Central.   Those three teams find themselves in different categories from where I placed them one month ago.

Right on track: Yankees (31-23), Red Sox (30-26), Rangers (30-26), Phillies (34-22), Giants (30-25).
Each team has cause for some concern; e.g., Boston has some issues with its pitching staff, but by and large, each of these teams is right where you’d expect: at or near the top of its division.

This can’t last, can it?: Rays (29-26), Indians (33-20), Mariners (28-27), Marlins (31-23), Cardinals (33-24), Diamondbacks (31-25)
It’s lasted two months… and these teams are all, surprisingly, contending in their respective divisions.

They are who we thought they were:  Blue Jays (29-26), Tigers (29-26), Braves (31-26), Brewers (30-26), Reds (29-28)
A new category, created to house the teams that probably should finish over .500.  While they’re not favorites to win their respective divisions, all could be wild card contenders down the road.

Remain calm…all is well!: White Sox (27-31), Angels (29-29), Rockies (26-29)
It’s a lot easier for White Sox fans to remain calm, after Chicago just won three straight in Boston.  Angels & Rockies fans may be a bit more agitated, but I’m still thinking May was an aberration for both teams.  However, another bad month for either will drop them down into the following category….

You’re going the wrong way!: Athletics (27-30), Dodgers (26-31)
Both of these teams should be better.  There’s plenty of time for both to get back in their respective races, but if not, then they’ll just drop into that great big abyss known as…

Dare to be mediocre: Orioles (25-29), Royals (25-30), Mets (25-30), Nationals (24-31), Pirates (26-28)
.500 is a reasonable goal for any of these five teams.  Each club has some good young talent, and could be a contender down the road.  Or not.  Maybe they’ll keep being the same average-to-bad franchise that they’ve been in recent memory.  But it’s still better than being categorized as…

Good seats soon to be available: Cubs (23-31), Astros (22-34), Padres (24-32)
At least each of these three teams plays in a nice ballpark, so there’s at least  some reason to show up, as long as you don’t expect the home team to win.

You’re in great company: Twins (17-37)
Minnesota gets a category all of its own, because yet another professional franchise based in the Twin Cities appears destined for a really dismal season.  And you thought the Vikings (6-10), Timberwolves (17-65), and Wild (39-35-8) were bad?  The only race the 2011 Twins will be in is whether they’ll finish with a better winning percentage than that awful NBA team that plays across the street.  Can Ricky Rubio hit a curve ball?  Can Drew Butera bury an open 3-pointer?  Who knows?  Who cares?  It just doesn’t matter anymore…

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports