So you missed the MLB the final games of the 2013 season? Don't worry, you're tuning in at the right time. The MLB playoffs are just days away, not counting the always nerve-wracking Game 163. Here's a look at each division in baseball and the final MLB standings as Sunday marked the end of the regular season. We start with the best team in baseball; the Boston Red Sox.
A.L. East: Boston Red Sox: 97-65 (6 Game Lead)
Tampa Bay Rays: 91-71
Baltimore Orioles: 85-77
New York Yankees: 85-77
Toronto Blue Jays: 74-88 <-- (Click to read how my prediction came true)
To many's surprise, a low-key team composed of, what seemed to be aged veterans; Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes and an injured Mike Napoli, made things happen in Boston during the 2013 season. Add in a mid-season acquisition of Jake Peavy on top of a surprising Red Sox pitching staff that saw John Lackey and Clay Buchholz hold their own throughout the season, (though Buchholz missed some time) and the A.L. East was theirs for the taking. The Yankees were too injured, the Rays and Orioles were inconsistent and the Blue Jays appears to have no chemistry.
A.L. Central: Detroit Tigers 93-69 (1 Game Lead), Cleveland Indians 92-70 (Wild Card)
Kansas City Royals 86-76
Minnesota Twins 66-96
Chicago White Sox 63-99
We can sit here and talk about the Tigers winning the Central, but the Indians shocked plenty around baseball with a magical surge to close out the 2013 campaign. The Indians made plenty of questionable moves during the offseason, while they built their offense around guys like Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, they failed to acquire starting pitching. Who knows how far they will go in the playoffs, but the Indians are the Kings of the Wild Card and Terry Francona can officially say he brought change to Cleveland.
A.L. West: Oakland Athletics 96-66 (5 Game Lead)
Texas Rangers 91-71
Los Angeles Angels 78-84
Seattle Mariners 71-91
Houston Astros 51-111
The Athletics claimed the A.L. West once again and this time, they did not need the final game of the season to decide anything, taking a huge advantage early in the month of September. Once again, they did it without a proven MVP in the middle of that lineup. Moneyball rules in 2013.
N.L. East: Atlanta Braves 96-66 (10 Game Lead)
Washington Nationals 86-76
New York Mets 74-88
Philadelphia Phillies 73-89
Miami Marlins 62-100
Many thought the East belonged to the Washington Nationals, but they were unable to put it together early on in the year and thanks to a fast start and a winning streak in the middle of the summer, the Braves were able to build a comfortable lead in the standings. They struggled down the stretch, but their lead was big enough to keep them on top of the Nationals.
N.L. Central: St. Louis Cardinals 97-65 (3 Game Lead), Pittsburgh Pirates (94-68), Cincinnati Reds 90-72
Milwaukee Brewers 74-88
Chicago Cubs 66-96
Just think how bad it must be to root for the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs this season? They were the only two teams in the N.L. Central who could not clinch a playoff berth. Okay, so only two teams can fight in the Wild Card, but the Brewers and Cubs finished their years under .500 and can only look forward to 2014.
N.L. West: Los Angeles Dodgers 92-70 (11 Game Lead)
Arizona Diamondbacks 81-81
San Diego Padres 76-86
San Francisco Giants 76-86
Colorado Rockies 74-88
The Dodgers finished with the biggest lead of any first-place team. They turned it up a notch in the second half, taking the West and leaving everybody else behind in the dust.
