Baseball's All-Stars said a looooong good-bye to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Now it's time to say hello to the post-All-Star portion of the schedule. It's time to start sorting out the winners from the pretenders. It's time for some dealing to patch contenders' holes.
Let's take a look at each division.AL EAST
Tampa Bay has been baseball's feel-good story, but the Rays, who have never lost fewer than 92 games in a season, stumbled up to the break. They lost seven in a row and had their need for an impact bat exposed, scoring only 13 runs. They have allowed Boston to get back in charge, even though the Red Sox bullpen already has 16 blown saves (two more than last year). The Yankees want to feel they can make a run at division, but only will if their offense can start to come through in the clutch (.254 with men in scoring position is fourth lowest in AL).
Telling times: Arizona did go 21-10 against NL West teams to open the season and 13 of its first 17 post-All-Star games are within the division. Dodgers and Diamondbacks have 13 matchups remaining. Rockies have only four of final 62 games against a team with a winning record (Florida). Surprising Giants have only 36 games left at home, which isn't all bad considering their 17-28 record at home.
Give the edge to: Dodgers. They have the most expensive and talented roster. A little bit of health could go a long ways for them.
Playing out the string: Padres have been long-time overachievers. They finally have fallen flat and there's no depth in farm system for a major influx of talent to get them back in a hurry.
If only: Arizona hadn't gotten hoodwinked into a three-year, $30 million deal for OF Eric Byrnes, prompting the giveaway of All-Star Carlos Quentin, they'd have the legit middle-of-the-lineup bat that they so desperately need.
Pressure is on: Dodgers GM Ned Colletti. He has been allowed to spend but the return on the dollar has been limited. In a down year for the division, failure to reach the postseason would make him a marked man.
Who's shopping: Dodgers need shortstop protection, and have been tied to Jack Wilson of Pittsburgh and Juan Uribe of the White Sox.
Who's being shopped: With CC Sabathia and Rich Harden dealt, Padres like the value that LHP Randy Wolf could get. The Rockies expect to move LH reliever Brian Fuentes, but want top-line prospect, at least, in return, or they will take draft pick compensation when he leaves as a free agent after the season. OF Matt Holliday or 3B Garrett Atkins could be had, but Rockies asking price will scare away anybody who isn't dead serious. Giants aren't looking to move value, but would ecstatic to unload veterans Omar Vizquel, Rich Aurilia, Ray Durham and Randy Winn.
