As the 2013 MLB season comes to a close, The Current wants to update sports fans on what they may have missed in the MLB between June and September. The summer is an important time in the MLB, and consists of many interesting events, such as the MLB All Star Game, the trading deadline, and the race to October. Some teams have completely collapsed, whereas others have gone on a strong run and are now in playoff contention. Some organizations were able to solidify their playoff spot by creating a large gap between first and second place.
One of the most important games of the season took place on July 16th: the MLB All Star Game. This game not only poses as a form of entertainment for fans, but also determines which league receives a home-field advantage for the World Series. The American League All Stars won the game 3-0, securing home-field advantage for the A.L. Mariano Rivera was named MVP after pitching a scoreless 8th inning in his final All-Star Game before his retirement.
In baseball, July 31st is referred to as “the trade deadline.” On this day, many teams strike deals for big-name players who can help a team either be successful in the future, or make a run to October. The Red Sox received renowned pitcher Jake Peavy. Boston hopes that Peavy can help them make a run to the playoffs. Esteemed pitcher Matt Garza was traded to the Texas Rangers. Like the Red Sox, the Rangers hope that their acquisition will help them secure a playoff spot. The New York Yankees received veteran outfielder Alfonso Soriano who, in his short tenure with the Yankees, has been an RBI machine. This year’s deadline was quieter than previous years, but the few trades that did take place turned out to be major.
Over the course of the summer, many teams have been successful, while others have completely collapsed. The Los Angeles Dodgers were once the laughing stock of the MLB. However, over a 49 game stretch they went 41-8. The Dodgers are now in first place in the NL West, with a comfortable 8.5 game lead over second place Arizona as of August 20th .The Atlanta Braves have also played extraordinarily well this summer while the rest of the teams in their division have struggled. The Braves held a 15 game lead over second place Washington in late August. 12 of 30 MLB teams were at least 10 games under .500 in late August. In their first year as an American League team, the Astros have struggled. The ball club was 41-83 on August 20th, which is easily the worst record in baseball this year.
