MLB - May Review

AL EAST
Pretty much status quo in the East. The Rays continue to lead and play really well. They will be a playoff team. The Yankee will too, they are on cruise control right now. Boston and Toronto are fighting for the #3 spot, which is totally meaningless, but neither has the firepower to compete with the Top 2. BAL lost 7 games in the standings this month, confirming my APR thoughts that they do in fact really suck.
TB, NYY - playoff picks.

AL CENTRAL
Twins have added 3 games to their lead in the month of May. I think the separation will continue and this will be a no doubter by September 1st. Sox and KC are both fading and have also lost ground since May 1st. CLE has become the trainwreck of the division by dropping an extra 5.5 games in May.
TWINS - playoff pick

AL WEST
OAK and TEX have flip-flopped in May with OAK now in 1st place by 1 game. Texas has seen their pitching fade a little in May, while OAK's young staff has actually improved. TEX definitely has the edge with the sticks, but that's really not that critical. Basically, these 2 are competing to see who will get housed by the TB/NYY winner in the East in the 1st round. LAA have held steady at only 2.5 out. They have improved in May and may be able to make a run. I'll still take them to win the division because they have the best Manager. SEA is terrible. Their offense saw a slight improvement, but their pitching has fallen off and allowed an extra run per game in May vs. April.
ANGELS - playoff pick

NL EAST
My Hotlanta Braves have vaulted up into 1st place by 1/2 a game after being 3 back at the beginning of the month. The difference, the offense, that scored an extra 44 runs this month over April. The pitching is going to be good, if they can hit they will be tough to beat. Philly is seeing a lot of injuries, but they'll still be a force to fear down the stretch. FLA, NYM, and WAS are all at .500 and only 3.5 out. Best division in the NL and the AL...the East.
ATLANTA - playoff pick

NL CENTRAL
CIN made up 5 games in May and is now tied for 1st with STL. They are absolutely pounding the ball right now and scored 156 runs in May. The pitching also improved in May, they are young but they have talent to be really effective. However, the Cards are a tough squad to bet against. They've been there before and they realize that 50 games does not a season make...they are still the team to beat in the Central. Pitching continues to be solid, the bats struggled in May but would you be worried about a team w/Pujols? Cubs held their ground in May with some improving pitching. Thanks Carlos Silva. The Brew Crew can't pitch. They are done. PITT...no. HOU...yikes.
CARDINALS - playoff pick

NL WEST
SD continues to lead the way in the West. The pitching is just tremendous, but can anyone name even 3 of their starters? LA found some pitching this month as well, and they remain 2 back. SF has leveled off and dropped 2.5 games this month. I continue to have a hard time picking a team that hits this poorly to win anything. COL is an enigma. They have some very great stretches and some very poor stretches, no consistency at all. But I'll stick with them as a playoff team. ARI - offense fell off the table but they continue to be the worst pitching staff in the NL...bad formula for success. The dropped 7.5 games in the standings and are well on their way into a major downward spiral with a difficult June slate of games. I look for them to be 15 out by next update.
COL and LAD - playoff picks

I think LAD will make a move for Oswalt or Lee and solidify that staff with an ace. I just can't get on the SD bandwagon and start believing...maybe next month.