There’s only six weeks left in the Major League Baseball season – but there are still plenty of stories to follow! Come take a quick round trip with me…

Around the bases

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NL West

• This race is over. The Giants socked it away a long time ago with their outstanding play all season long. The Giants aren’t the type of team that blinds you with star power at every position, but they’re a smart and savvy veteran team that knows what it takes to win. They’ve got to be considered the favorites to represent the NL in the World Series. Best wishes go to Bobby Bonds, who is ill with lung cancer.
• Remember when the Dodgers could hit? They can’t, either…
• Is this the last hurrah for the Diamondbacks? They’re still carrying a lot of debt, and their star pitchers, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling are beginning to give in to the ravages of age. If it is, things could get a lot worse in the desert before they get better.

NL Central

• This is the best race in baseball – kind of. None of three teams in contention seem to be able to put together any kind of run. One of them has to have enough left for a finishing kick – right?
• The Astros have suffered through awful seasons by their best young starters, Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller. Miller is showing signs of returning to form, but Oswalt is still nursing his injuries. Third sacker Morgan Ensberg may nave saved Houston’s season with his inspired play.
• The Cubs are still the Cubs until proven otherwise. This year, however, the Central is within their reach. Sammy Sosa is ablaze at the plate, and young uber-hurler Mark Prior is back on the mound. Manager Dusty Baker is as good as they come, and can keep his team afloat during tough stretches. The Cubs look like they may found the right mix this season – but can they overtake the Astros and Cardinals?
• Speaking of the Cardinals – this is the one team that nobody wants to face in the playoffs. It’s been an odd year for St. Louis, as they haven’t been able to come together and get on any kind of roll – yet. We are watching greatness reveal itself in young Albert Pujols.
• Let me get this straight – Cincinnati taxpayers build a brand-new stadium for the Reds, and the team collapses like a house of cards. If that wasn’t enough, they then decide to trade away most of their talent for mediocre prospects. Next come the rumors that Pete Rose will return to baseball soon – and he wants to take over the Reds. Beware, Cincinnati – frogs and pestilence may be on their way right now… or maybe that’s just the Bengals…

NL East

• Could somebody explain the Braves to me? Greg Maddux is getting knocked around, Mike Hampton’s been unbeatable, and the high-scoring offense (Atlanta?) is led by Javy Lopez and Vinny Castilla? This is the leading team in the National League? Bobby Cox really is a genius!
• The Phillies should frighten a lot of teams from here on out. Pat Burrell is slowly regaining his power stroke – filling in Philadelphia’s only real hole. The Phils have been overlooked all year – but that’s about to end.
• The Marlins have been a nice story this year, but let’s not delude ourselves here. Mike Lowell has had a career year, but he’s already started to tail off a bit. Dontrelle Willis has been spectacular, but what’s the lesson we’ve learned from watching the Marlins? Let me give you some examples: Josh Beckett, A.J. Burnett and Brad Penny. All of them have had major arm troubles, and most experts point to their overuse at such a young age as the culprits. Perhaps the penny-pinching Florida owner, Jeffrey Loria, should consider pre-paying for Willis’ 2005 reconstructive surgery right now…

AL West

• The Mariners keep rolling, but this could be it for more than a few of their core players. The window of opportunity is closing rapidly, and the fact that Seattle stood pat at the trading deadline irked some of their players. Adding the combustible Armando Benitez simply adds to the risk of implosion. Add we haven’t even discussed the fast-approaching…
• Oakland A’s. What would this team’s record look like if they ever got out to a good start? Their talent level is better than they’ve shown thus far, and adding rookie phenomenon Rich Harden to the rotation only makes the A’s more fearsome. For the second year in a row, the A’s are hitting on all cylinders as the season draws to a close. No one wants to face Oakland’s starting pitching in the postseason – no one.

AL Central

• If at least part of you isn’t pulling for Kansas City, there’s something wrong with you. The scrappy Royals have hung in the race all year, despite missing their best player – Mike Sweeney – for a large portion of the season. Tony Pena waited a long time for chance a managerial job, and he’s making a lot of teams look silly for passing him up.
• The White Sox are for real. Frank Thomas is playing well again, and Paul Konerko has started to turn around his season. The Pale Hose are hitting well, and as long as the pitching holds up, they’ll be in the race until the end.
• The Twins are the AL equivalent of the Cardinals. They should be walking away with this division, but they haven’t been able to put it all together yet. With two teams ahead of them – the Twins have to get rolling quickly, or the Royals and Sox may leave them in the dust.

AL East

• The greatest rivalry in baseball is in full force this season. The Yankees and Red Sox have the best teams their money can buy, and their general managers are dueling on the field and in the press.
• The Yankees are still the top dog for a reason – they know how to win, and their veteran roster won’t feel the pressure of this race, but the Red Sox will. They’ve been close before, but actually getting past the Yankees and winning the East is another story entirely. The Red Sox also have to think about the A’s, the Mariners, and the wild-card race, too. This is one of the biggest years in recent Red Sox history, and how they handle the last six weeks may be the most fascinating story of the season.

While the upcoming football season may grab most of the headlines, the exciting finish to the 2003 baseball season shouldn’t be missed!