4 things that would be fun to see in MLB's second half, including the Yankees choking
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The All-Star break was a lot of fun but now it’s over and it’s time for teams and fanbases to get ready for what should be a frantic final few months of the season followed up by what could be a very juicy postseason.
So while we get ready for baseball to get back in action later today (there are six games on this fine Thursday) let’s take a look at four things that would be fun to see happen.
1. The Baltimore Orioles making the playoffs.
The O’s have been awful in recent years. Like, really, really, really bad. They’ve had over 100 losses in three of the last four seasons (the shortened 2020 season was they only year they didn’t have 100 in that stretch), including last year when they dropped 110 games. That’s a lot of losing.
Well, the Orioles are 46-46 at the All-Star break, which is basically like 20 games over .500 for them, and had a 10-game winning streak earlier this month. They’re still 3/2 games back in the wild-card race but with three wild-card teams getting in this year there is a shot they could get there. It’s a long shot, sure, but it would be fun to see them in contention for a spot in the postseason.
2. The Seattle Mariners making the playoffs and winning a playoff series.
Just like the Orioles, the Mariners have grown used to losing lots of games over the years. That changed a bit last season when they finished 90-72 but still missed the playoffs. Right now they’re the hottest team in baseball thanks to their current 14-game winning streak and sit in second place in the AL West.
The Mariners haven’t been in the playoffs since 2001 when they lost to the Yankees in the ALCS so they and their fans are hungry for this playoff push. But forget about just getting in the playoffs, I think it would be fun as you-know-what to have them win a playoff series and get things rocking up in the Pacific Northwest.
3. Aaron Judge hitting 60 home runs.
Speaking of 2001, that was the last time we saw someone hit 60 or more home runs in a season (Barry Bonds had 73, Sammy Sosa had 64). Well, Judge has 33 homers so far and is on pace to break the 60-home run barrier. Nobody in the AL has hit over 60 dingers since Roger Maris in 1961. Home runs are fun. Home run chases are fun. This should be a fun few months for Judge and the Yankees.
4. The Yankees break the regular-season win record, then lose in the playoffs.
The Yankees are the best team in baseball with 64 wins and 28 losses at the break. They are on pace to beat the record for most wins a season (116) that’s held by the 2001 Mariners and 1906 Cubs. And let’s be honest – nobody is going to be able to stop the Yankees from breaking that record this year.
But… someone will stop them from winning their first World Series since 2009 and that team will be the Houston Astros. Yankees fans would be crushed if that happened. The rest of baseball fans would probably find it kind of funny. OK, they’d find it really funny.
Quick hits: 10 nastiest pitches from MLB’s first half …8 funniest ESPYs moments… Giants’ sweet throwbacks… And more.
– Here are the 10 nastiest pitches from the first half of the MLB season, including a 45 mph meatball that a Reds hitter whiffed on.
– Steph Curry hosted the ESPYs last night and had some good jokes about Tom Brady, LeBron James and more.
– The New York Giants are bringing back their old uniforms for a few games and these really need to be there full-time threads.
– Here’s how J.Lo’s love life could mean another Super Bowl win for Tom Brady.