Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site spuxll.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!mcnc!akgua!whuxlm!spuxll!radio
From: radio@spuxll.UUCP (Rick Farina)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Pennant Races (and impending strike)
Message-ID: <693@spuxll.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 22-Jul-85 13:43:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: spuxll.693
Posted: Mon Jul 22 13:43:43 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Jul-85 05:14:10 EDT
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, South Plainfield NJ
Lines: 35


Judging from the recent rhetoric and comminuques dispatched from
both sides in the Baseball Labor Dispute (also known as 
The Pigs vs. The Hogs, or The Hogs vs. The Pigs, depending on whose side
you`re on), it would seem that a player`s strike is inevitable.

For all practical purposes, it`s late-Semptember and there are two weeks
remaining in the season. Suddenly, the division races have narrowed
considerably. As of Monday, July 22, here`s how the races appear to shape up:

	AL East: Basically down to the Blue Jays and Yankees.
		 The Tigers are only 4 1/2 back, but they have two
		 teams to pass. Barring a miracle, the Tigers are out of it.

	AL Worst: The Angels, 6 games up on Oakland, can begin their
		  magic number countdown.

	NL East: Basically the Cardinals and Mets. The Expos, only 2 1/2 back,
		 have an outside shot. The Cubs won`t have to "embarrass"
		 the City of Chicago with temporary lights (or a temporary
	         relocation, Dallas?), after all.

	NL Worst: Down to the Padres and Dodgers. Pete`s Reds, 5 back,
		  have to much ground to make up.

Three of the four races will likely go to the last weekend (that`s August 2-5, 
folks). 

If there is an LCS and WS this year, then the teams that play in them
will play under the cloud of an aborted season. But don`t bet on it.
Burned by the lack of strike insurance, and still smarting from the 1981
defeat, the owners will wait out this one a long, long time.

raf
-----