Summer's Not Over Yet...It's Just Starting!

At mid-August, we're only counting down the weeks before summer is over. For some school children, it's only a week or so to go. For vacationers, it's simply two more weeks to go. However, most of know that in actuality summer ends at the next equinox scheduled during the third weekend of September.

All of these are right, but for Major League Baseball, we only have six weeks left in the regular season.

It's been a great season so far. The pennant races threw us some surprises and some interesting changes in fortunes. It only takes a few bullet points to catch us up to date and to see where the next six weeks will take us.

• The Tampa Bay Rays are still on top of the American League East. Shocked? Considering that a few of the guys, including Evan Longoria, are healing on the disabled list, they should be back for an epic finale that can only rival the Buccaneers' Super Bowl championship and the Lightning's Stanley Cup. The defending World Champion Boston Red Sox are still three games back, while the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays are gearing up for a run past the Red Sox to nibble at the Rays' top spot. Once Longoria and the guys on the DL get back in the lineup, it will be difficult to lament the absence of the third and fourth place spots in the post season.


• You can send piranhas to chomp at the Chicago White Sox, but the Southsiders just keep pushing. There was a moment when the Carrasco-Olivo scuffle may have doomed the White Sox's chance at claiming another AL Central flag. Even the Kansas City Royals' Zach Grienke's plunking of Nick Swisher in the same game couldn't stop Ozzie Guillen's team from their destiny. Just a game behind are the Minnesota Twins, waiting for more pratfalls from the South Side to secure another division flag. The concern for the Twins would be the hot-and-cold nature of their level of play. This is where the Twins need to ratchet up their game a notch to overtake the White Sox. Otherwise, Ozzie and the guys will walk away with the flag.


• After firing Willie Randolph, one would've thrown in the towel on the New York Mets. Under Jerry Manuel, they've ignited into a team that knows no fear. Currently, they're at the top of the National League East with a game's cushion between them and Philadelphia Phillies. Complicating matters are the Florida Marlins, just two-and-a-half games off the Mets' pace. This is a three horse race that again will go to the wire. The concern would be on the Mets with all eyes on Queens wondering if they'll melt down again. Overall, these are three great teams competing for the most sought-after flag of the senior circuit. Any of these teams will do the job, but once they get into October is another story. Sadly, only one of these teams will move forward into October.


• Out West, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks have pulled even. The good news is that they're over .500! The addition of Manny Ramirez and Adam Dunn in this pennant race will make it more interesting to watch. Again, the same rule applies as in the East: One of these teams will make it into October. Whether Joe Torre will prove his worth in Southern California or not rides on how they match and overtake the D-Backs.


• Two truths are self evident right now in the NL Central: If the season ends this weekend, the Chicago Cubs will win another division pennant and the Milwaukee Brewers will be the Wild Card. Before the All-Star Break, the Brew Crew was under .500 and had guys playing hurt. Now, everyone's healthy and C.C. Sabathia has taken control of the team. Down on the North Side of Chicago, the Rich Harden deal only enhanced a strong pitching staff. Lou Piniella's club is playing steady, but exceptional baseball. All season long, the Cubs showed strength with a goal in mind: Kill the goat! Watch for that goat in the meat section of your local Dominck's stores throughout the Chicagoland area.


• How about the best record in baseball? How about the only team that can meet the Cubs in the World Series and give them seven games of hell? It was 29 years ago when the California Angels won their first AL West pennant. Orange County's team is setting club records that their Los Angeles County neighbors are finally taking notice. If it takes a second Commissioner's Trophy to get the respect of fans stretching from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas to Palm Springs, then so be it! If they do, the Cowboy can finally ride in peace up in the eternal ranch knowing that Arte Moreno is keeping his legacy alive.

Here's a question to ponder as we clock down the magic numbers and the weeks before we go October Gonzo: Where would you rather have your victory parade: Disneyland or The Loop?

For the answer to that question, the summer's not over yet to consider it.