American League Observations

With soccer in its rightful spot, the rear view mirror, let's start to shift our undivided attention to the world of baseball.

You know, that sport that is more American than apple pie and the hot dog?

Baseball hits the All Star break in another week, and let's just say, the first official online only vote by the fans was an unmitigated disaster.

At one point teams were taking on the AL all star team, the Kansas City Royals.

I'd ask ppl to be responsible with their votes, but then again, this is something baseball has been asking for since they made the All Star game outcome the decider for home field advantage in the World Series.

Maybe I'll talk about this in the offseason, but baseball needs serious reforms to who ends up in a game with that much at stake.

Personally, I think it starts with a weighted managerial/player vote.

But I digress.

On the field right now, things are certainly proving to be entertaining.

I look at the American League East and can't help what ask, what the hell is going on?

The Yankees, who have perhaps the oldest team in all of baseball sit in first place on the 6th of July. The heavy favorites can't get out of their own way, and

I can't say I'm everyone else is within two games of first place.

I would say the Rays are playing way over their heads but when you have pitching depth like they have, you'll never be out of a race.

The Blue Jays are finding just enough for the time being to in this year's race but personally, that's a team to me, that has to without question get a starter, maybe even two. A 4.23 team ERA has them in the lower third of the league. Only Boston is worse in the AL East.

The American League Central may be the most baffling division in baseball.

Kansas City being at the top is no surprise, but the division is almost completely turned on its head.

I'll admit, I bought the White Sox hype to an extent in the preseason, but I don't think anyone saw them 6-under .500, last in the division, and talking about moving Jeff Samardzija as the deadline approaches.

Then again, I don't think anyone saw Minnesota jumping out of the gate like they did (20-7 May). They've come back to Earth hard in June (11-17).

Mike Pelfrey and Kyle Gibson were phenomenal the first two months of the year, but have leveled off.

In fact, to keep the magic alive, the Twinkies have recalled two of baseball's top prospects, Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano.

Elsewhere, I've been thoroughly disappointed by the Cleveland Indians. Crazy as it was, my preseason pick to win the American League barely showed up in the season's first two months. At 8 games out, Cleveland has the pitching finally going and could use some consistency offensively. They've got a ton of ground to make up after digging themselves quite the hole.

Is there a bigger surprise than the Houston Astros? 13 over the .500 mark, the 'Stros are doing what everyone expected in a year, maybe two, not in '15.

Dallas Kuechel looks like Clayton Kershaw. Carlos Correa looks like a five year vet. And the Astros are piecing together a team that is becoming more than a contender in the West, but they look, dare I say, like the class of the American League.

But don't count out the Angels or Rangers.

Despite not having their ace, Yovanni Gallardo is having a career year [in a hitter's park] after many excellent ones in Milwaukee. At just 29 years young, Gallardo could be a steal for Texas.

Texas will score runs. This offense is terrific and starting to get healthy, but like every Rangers team, it's going to start and end with the pitching.

If Texas could get Derek Holland back healthy, and get mileage out of him, look out for the baseball Rangers friends.

Additionally, the Angels are playing good baseball now.

Finding consistency is going to be the name of the game for this group. Playing just above .500 ball month to month, the Angels need another big July to catapult them over the top.

The wild card picture in the AL has more action than the sky on the 4th of July.

We'll dive into the National League later!