So here we are with roughly 6 weeks left in the MLB season and every division is up for grabs, including the AL East. (Don’t look now, Beantown, but that Pinstriped Yankee-mobile you see surging in your rearview mirror is gaining fast.) Thus, I give you my 6 “difference makers” down the stretch, one for each division. We’ll start in the NL:
NL East: Chase Utley, Phillies.
Has any team been smitten by the injury bug more than Philly? Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jon Leiber, Freddy Garcia, Brett Myers, Tom Gordon, Shane Victorino…all of these have spent considerable time on the DL, yet the Phils are only 4 games back of the Mets. I still like the Braves here, but getting Utley back will give the Phillies a huge shot in the arm. I expect them to be in this to the end.
NL Central: Ben Sheets, Brewers.
Just like last year, this is MLB’s cream puff division. Milwaukee’s .517 winning percentage would be good for 4th in both the NL East and West. But somebody’s gotta win this division. The Brew Crew’s pitching has been spotty since Sheets went down. But he’s throwing again and he looks to be on target for a return in the next few weeks. His September starts will be crucial in determining Milwaukee’s postseason fate.
NL West: Justin Upton, Diamondbacks.
It’s rare that you see a division leader call up a 19 year-old phenom in the heat of a pennant race and insert him into the heart of the lineup. But that’s exactly what’s happened in Arizona, and Upton has flashed his tremendous upside in his brief stint in “The Show”. On a D-Back team that’s given up 30 more runs than they’ve scored, Upton’s offensive ability could be a difference maker in this division.
AL East: Scott Kazmir, Devil Rays.
At .384, the D-Rays paltry winning percentage is easily the worst in baseball. Yet, the Rays could make a difference in baseball’s glamor division, with 2 series remaining with the Yankees and 3 more with the BoSox. Although the rest of their pitching staff is a joke, Scott Kazmir is a legit ace who has pitched very well against both the Yanks and the Sox this year. In a division that’s much tighter than anyone expected 2 months ago, things may be decided by which team Kazmir faces when the Rays play back-to-back series against the Sox and Yanks Sept. 21-26.
AL Central: Jeremy Bonderman, Tigers.
Deadlocked with the Indians, the Tigers need Bonderman to pitch like Bonderman. Before his gem Tuesday against Cleveland, Bonderman had a stretch of 4 horrible outings in a row, including a 2 inning, 10 earned run outing against Anaheim July 29th. If the Tigers are going to be competitive down the stretch, they need their ace to pitch like one.
AL West: Juan Rivera, Angels.
As usual, the “Big Bat Theory” is alive and well in Anaheim. Aside from Vlad, there’s no one to really fear in this lineup that ranks 28th in the majors in home runs. Add the rehabbing Juan Rivera (23 HR last season) and the Angels lineup has a little more sock to it. Rivera should get regular at-bats in September and should be good to go for the postseason. He’s my AL West difference maker.
What do you think, baseball fans? Where did I get it wrong?
already & not yet 
You’re right on about Utley…I picked Philadelphia (in March) to win the WS over Boston; I’ll feel purty smart if it pans out (but it likely won’t.
Philly was my preseason NL East pick, too. With a solid offense and a glut of starting pitching, I thought they had a great shot at winning the division. Of course they started out horribly and their surplus of pitching never panned out when Garcia & Liebs got hurt. But the fact that they’re still in the hunt is impressive given their injuries.
Good stuff. Utley is a tough choice with other difference makers in the East like the newly acquired Teixiera for the Braves and Beltran coming back healthy for the Mets. Tough call.Sheets going down has really sent the Crew into a tailspin. I kinda think the opening day loss of Carpenter for the Cardinals reshaped the whole division.AL East – You gotta go A-Rod. Yankees are 14 back and he’s hitting. Now a near lock for at least the wildcard and even a decent shot at catching the Red Sox and he’s still hitting.Bonderman has been a big deal but I think the almost disappearance of Hafner in Cleveland has put the Indians in a tough spot.(Thanks for letting me intrude but with all the Bonds gobbledeegook, there has been a real lack of MLB analysis.)
Alan,I still think the Braves will win the division and perhaps the pennant. Their deadline deals put them over the top, in my opinion. But the fact that the Phils are still in the hunt given all their injuries is impressive. Getting the best 2nd baseman in the game back healthy is huge for them, especially considering how Howard and Rollins have been scuffling of late. But you’re right about Beltran; he and Alou have both been on fire for the Mets.Hafner’s killing my fantasy team. I certainly wouldn’t mind if he was a difference maker for my Lobes. And don’t get me started on Carpenter’s injury. Thanks for stopping by. Pop back in any time.
Chuck James, Buddy Carlyle, and whoever the Braves put on the mound as the 5th starter will determine if the Braves win the East. Scary, but true.
I know the Braves need another starter, but you have to give props to Schuerholz for detecting the inflated market for crappy starters and making a move to bolster the offense and the ‘pen. They had to give up Davies to get Dotel, and I think Davies is definitely better than Carlyle, but sometimes you gotta go for it. I guess James is the #3 starter…he’s serviceable, but better suited as a 4 or 5. But that’s what makes the NL so intriguing; there are no perfect teams and that often makes for a fun finish.