If Your Team's Still In It, Here's How It Can Win the Pennant

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

With the second half of the baseball season beginning tomorrow there are 19 teams, six of which are leading their divisions, within seven games or less of their division lead. 

There are many questions floating around baseball right now.

Where will Roy Halladay end up?

Which teams are buyers and which teams are sellers?

How many outs are there?  Okay, that is just in Milton Bradley's head.

But the most important question amongst any baseball team is: What does our team need to do to win?

Teams such as the 2006 Cardinals and even the Phillies of last year prove that all you need to do is make the playoffs.  From there, all you need is three weeks of good baseball and you're World Series champions.

So, lets get your team in the playoffs. 

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Boston Red Sox

The Positive

You are in first place by three games.  Jason Bay, Kevin Youkilis, and Jacoby Ellsbury have completely saved your offense from the down years of David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and JD Drew.  Your pitching has been great with a slumping Daisuke Matsuzaka. 

You have the second best team ERA in the American League and the third most runs offensively in baseball.  You are a well-oiled machine. 

Directions Toward Champagne

You have come this far with a slumping Ortiz, who is starting to turn things around, and an injured Mike Lowell.  Lowell should be coming back soon to an already great offense.  Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield need to keep up the good work. 

Hopefully Matsuzaka can change things, but until then, John Smoltz will need to step things up.  Brad Penny's last six starts have been solid.

New York Yankees

The Positive

Your giant signings of CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and AJ Burnett are paying off as you sit three games back of the Red Sox and in the lead for the wild card.  You have the most runs in baseball.

Directions To Champagne

You are 23rd in ERA in baseball.  Unfortunately after Sabathia and Burnett, your rotation is all over the place as is your bullpen aside from Rivera.  Pettitte and Chamberlain have been decent, but inconsistent, Alfredo Aceves, your best bullpen pitcher this year aside from Rivera, will have to help as the fifth starter. 

Chamberlain and Aceves need to fix the end of that rotation because there are no other options as long as Chien-Ming Wang is out.  Wang's last four starts were decent, so if he can come back and act as a nice four, pushing Chamberlain to the five and Aceves back to the bullpen, the Yankees staff could turn things around.  

Posada and Matsui also need to stay healthy for that offense.  

Tampa Bay Rays

The Positive

You have a total machine at third base in Evan Longoria.  Ben Zobrist has saved you with the loss of Akinori Iwamura, who may be back before the season, and you have the second most runs in baseball.  You currently sit six-and-a-half games back of the Red Sox.   

Directions To Champagne

Your pitching, although 10th in ERA in baseball, has been the disappointment.  Scott Kazmir has had a rough season, but since coming back from injury, has had two decent starts and one terrible one.  Kazmir needs to get back on track along with Jeff Nieman and David Price blossoming at the end of that rotation for you to compete.  

Increases in batting average between Carlos Pena and BJ Upton couldn't hurt either along with a return of Iwamura, which would push Zobrist to right field and solidfy the Rays offensively and defensively.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Positive

You have a nice core of blossoming young stars in Adam Lind and Aaron Hill along with veterans Scott Rolen, Vernon Wells, Marco Scutaro, Rod Barajas and Alex Rios.  Ricky Romero is the rookie of the year of the first half.  Your bullpen is solid all around.  You have Roy Halladay to shop for the pieces you need in the future if you choose.  

Directions To Champagne

Not this year, but the last two years you have put together a nice core of players.  Get some starting pitching for Roy Halladay and you could compete in the next two years with the defense you have (fewest errors in baseball) and Cito Gatson at the helm. 

You are in the wrong division, unfortunately, but you also lost three of your starting pitchers which doesn't help.  A rotation of Romero, Jesse Litsch, Dustin McGowan, and Shaun Marcum is solid and young.  If you keep Halladay, then you have an extremely solid rotation.     

Baltimore Orioles

The Positive

Your youngsters have been progressing nicely in the form of Adam Jones, Matt Weiters, and Nolan Reimold.  Nick Markakis is no old man either.  

Directions To Champagne

Not this year, but you have nice players to sell in the form of Luke Scott, Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora, and George Sherrill.  You need pitching.  Your offense is young and showing talent, so fix that pitching staff which is 28th in ERA in baseball.  

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