Ottoneu-- Making the Push...

The screen shot shows that the Yakking Muggers were in first place yesterday.  This did not last.  The Yakking Muggers are now 13.2 points behind first place.  As the team might not return to first place, I grabbed the screen shot while I could.

Once an actual full week of baseball had been played, the team was in 12th place.  The Muggers spent the first eleven weeks in the lower division.  So, advancing to first place, even if briefly, is an accomplishment.

The first strength of the pennant pushing Muggers is pitching-- Halladay, Hamels, Morrow, Shields.  The second strength is pluckiness-- Headley, Hill, Kubel and Andrus have been just as productive as Bruce, Hanley, Mauer and A-Gon.

The first place team is stacked with top pitching-- Kershaw, Gio, Bumgarner, Price, Wainwright and hitting-- Pujols, Stanton, Pedroia, Kemp, Tulowitzki, as quite a few late season trades were made.  So, is it a two team race?  Actually, the first five teams all have a legitimate shot. 

The Muggers are a few games played ahead of pace, so that will cost some points.  Still, most likely, the team ends up first or second.  It would be a fun story if they could take first.