EDITOR’S NOTE:Boyd Bergquist was the sports director at KETS-TV in East Tree Stump, Nebraska for almost 40 years. Known across the Husker state as the voice of the Boy’s High School Basketball Tournament, Bergquist was a four-time winner of the Marv J. Butz “Golden Cob” Award For Excellence In Nebraska Broadcast Journalism.That background, along with his quick if not cliché-riddled wit and love of single-malt scotch makes Bergquist a perfect fit to be our “Question” guy.
You might have noticed (and judging by our stats, you haven’t), but the usual Memorial Day breakdown didn’t get posted this year. The biggest reason behind that was the move of Dubsism World Headquarters. Despite that, they call Major League Baseball “The Show,” and like any show, it went right on.
If you recall, I’m not about the usual “power ranking” stuff. Instead, I’ started this season by breaking down all 30 major league squads into six easy-to-understand groups based on what I thought these teams could realistically expect in 2024. Those original six categories were as follows.
Ready To Win Right Now: These are teams which are ready to climb the mountain right now…no ifs, ands or buts.
There’s Just One Thing Missing: Did you ever almost complete a jigsaw puzzle, but the three pieces you have remaining don’t fit the holes you have left? Welcome to the stories of these teams.
Need Some Things To Go Their Way: Welcome to a collection of clubs who almost have the goods to win on their own; but anything is possible if they get more than one “lucky break.”
At Least They Don’t Suck: Do I really need to explain this one?
Why Wait For Next Year? One way or another, these teams need to make a decision about the future.
It’s Going To Be A Long Summer: Everybody has hope on Opening Day, but some lose it far faster than others.
Now, in a normal year, I would have revisited all the teams based on performance versus expectation when the calendar hit Memorial Day…which marks the “quarter turn” of the horse race which is the baseball season. As is the theme, they are in self-explanatory categories.
Just As We Expected: Teams performing just as we thought.
Off To A Great Start, But There’s A Lot of Season Left: Read this as teams who just might be over-achieving.
So Far, So Good: Teams who really could be in much worse shape…or just really can’t complain.
It’s Not “Panic” Time…Yet: This is for teams who may have stumbled out of the gate, but still have plenty of time to get things straightened out.
Better Figure It Out Quick: A category for teams whose problems are severe, despite the fact there a lot of race left.
It’s Not Too Early To Say It’s Over: Even at this juncture, it’s a safe bet these teams are finished.
Since we are now half-way through the race, there are really only two categories to worry about; is your team a contender or a pretender, and should you buy or sell on their immediate future. After today, that’s really all that matters.
All odds are from Bet365.com
American League
Contenders: Buy
Baltimore Orioles
Original Rating: Ready To Win Right Now
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Just As We Expected
Odds To Win World Series: +500
Question: Why does everybody point to the injury problem plaguing the O’s pitching staff claiming as what a crushing weakness it is, while never mentioning the beloved Yankees have exactly the same problem? And despite that “crushing weakness,” why are the O’s the leader of the AL pack?
Skip down to the Yankees for the answer…
Cleveland Indians Guardians
Original Rating: At Least They Don’t Suck
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Off To A Great Start, But There’s A Lot Of Season Left
Odds To Win World Series: +1300
Forget about the fact the Indians Guardians are in the weak-ass AL Central. Through last night, Cleveland has notched a 23-13 record against clubs with winning records. This team is for real.
New York Yankees
Original Rating: There’s Just One Thing Missing
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Just As We Expected
Odds To Win World Series: +650
Answer to the question posed earlier about Baltimore: Because the Yankees are “star-driven,” and nobody gets more “star-struck” than the “highlight show” sports media. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are “rock stars” in the Bronx, but why doesn’t anybody ever mention how slump-prone they can both be? Since nobody in the media wants to lose their “backstage passes,” criticism of the teams that fill the arenas remains muted…regardless of the topic.
That “slump” thing is easy to ignore when the “dynamic duo” are riding higher than the “Hawk-Tuah” chick, but bookmark this for reference the next time those two go M.I.A. The Pinstripes had better hope that doesn’t happen anytime soon since everybody else on this roster seems to have swallowed their bats.
Speaking of swallowing…just wait, it gets worse…
Forget about why the media loves this team, forget about the “star power,” forget about everything else but this. For me, all teams go through rough stretches during a season, but a team this good shouldn’t have spent the last third of June sporting a team ERA of 8.65 and a collective OPS of .645. This team can make October on cruise control, but today they are bigger example of dysfunctional chaos that Joey Chestnut’s colon the morning after the hot-dog eating contest.
Worse ye, you just got sucked into a stealth “spit/swallow” joke.
Houston Astros
Original Rating: Ready To Win Right Now
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Better Figure It Out Quick
Odds To Win World Series: +1500
The Astros had a godawful start, but their Team ERA is going down and their run production is rocketing this team deeper and deeper into the Mariners’ rear-view mirror. By August, April will be completely forgotten (just like Jose Abreu) and the Astros will be setting the pace in the AL West.
Contenders: Sell
Seattle Mariners
Original Rating: Need Some Things To Go Their Way
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Just As We Expected
Odds To Win World Series: +1800
Like I said, this team needed some things to go their way, and they caught two serious breaks with the the sputtering starts by Houston and Texas. The M’s are the only side consistently topping .500 in the AL West; even the surging Astros just cracked the surface last week.
Worse yet, while Houston is red-hot, the Mariners are downright glacial. The pitching has gone stale with a team ERA orbiting 5.00, and that offense won’t take anybody anywhere as long as they are slashing .193/.272/.336.
Minnesota Twins
Original Rating: Need Some Things To Go Their Way
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: It’s Not “Panic” Time…Yet
Odds To Win World Series: +2000
No need to find reasons to use this pic when the Twins give so many…
Honestly, the only reason I have this team as a contender is because the Guardians can still completely implode as we are only halfway through this thing. Despite the fact the Twins are hovering around ten games over .500, they simply do not play well against good teams…that’s this year’s version of how they shoot themselves in the foot come October…if they even can get there.
Kansas City Royals
Original Rating: It’s Going To Be A Long Summer
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Off To A Great Start, But There’s A Lot Of Season Left
Odds To Win World Series: +5500
Two weeks ago, this team looked ready to go belly up. But a recent convincing series win over Cleveland means I still have to consider this team as a potential contender, and they are 31-19 at home. I just don’t know if they can keep the pace down the stretch…is dropping their last three home games a preview of coming attractions?
Pretenders: Buy
Boston Red Sox
Original Rating: At Least They Don’t Suck
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: So Far, So Good
Odds To Win World Series: +5000
Vegas doesn’t like the Red Sox, and I understand why. But as it stands right now, either the Yankees or the Orioles are taking one wild card spot. The next one in the race is the “could collapse at any minute” Twins, and guess who just clicked into the third spot? Boston in the post-season is a distinct possibility…and anything is possible from there.
Detroit Tigers
Original Rating: Why Wait For Next Year?
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Off To A Great Start, But There’s A Lot Of Season Left
Odds To Win World Series: +30,000
That 5-0 start was a complete “head fake,” but despite the Tigers’ quick trip down the drain, I still like what’s coming for the Motor City Kitties. Tarik Skubal is a legit “front-end of the rotation” guy, and they’ve got enough interesting bargaining chips with trade season impending to really make a haul for the future.
Pretenders: Sell
Tampa Rays
Original Rating: There’s Just One Thing Missing
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: So Far, So Good
Odds To Win The Series: +10,000
The only thing missing: Civale adorned with a piece of masking tape with “$5.00” written on it
Tampa is the riskiest team in this entire “buy or sell” exercise. They could be a pretender or contender, but they also have too many guys cashing bigger checks than the skin-flint Rays would like. Is “garage sale” right around the corner. You’re guess is as good as mine, but the Aaron Civale deal suggests there’s going to be old luggage and a badminton set in Tampa’s driveway very soon.
Texas Rangers
Original Rating: There’s Just One Thing Missing
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: It’s Not “Panic” Time…Yet
Watching Wyatt Langford hit for the cycle last week was one of those moments that define why we watch baseball. Trouble is that was the only game Texas won all week. Look for the wilt to continue in the Texas heat.
Toronto Blue Jays
Original Rating: There’s Just One Thing Missing
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Better Figure It Out Quick
Odds To Win The World Series: +17,500
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. and Bo Bichette probably won’t get traded, but Toronto should take heed from another original category in this series. It’s over for this era in Toronto, so why wait for next year? Deal everybody now for a new crop of prospects and circle 2029 on the calendar.
Los Angeles Angels
Original Rating:Why Wait For Next Year?
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Not Too Early To Say It’s Over
Odds To Win The World Series: +35,000
I’m deferring to the owner of this blog on this one…
Fuck…where do I start? Let me tell you, the fact nobody nationally gives a shit about this team is the exact reason why collectively we Angels’ fans are under-rated as a suffering fan base. Yeah, I know this team’s championship drought doesn’t stack up to those like the Cleveland Indians Guardians, but the Halos have spent the last decade perpetually circling the AL West drain despite having a bloated payroll and a stretch when the roster featured arguably the two best players in the game.
You’re probably not getting your Temu order.
Every year, this team delivers déjà vu for surviving a ship fire. But for some reason. we never give the order to abandon ship. There’s a reason why my fandom of this fucking team was one of the original installments of Tales of Depression and Sorrow. How many other fans do you know who have a “Wasted Money Hall of Fame” as a shrine to the sheer idiocy of (insert front office stooge here)?
2024 is just another example. The Halos took an early series from the defending World Champs in Arlington, which served as the “glimmer of hope” that keeps us all from heading for the lifeboats. Of course, that was before we knew what a shit-pile Texas is. Then the Angels just had a six-game winning streak. But it too proved to be meaningless because that’s the dry-hump frustration you get for being a fan of this fucking team.
Hope is a lot of things, but it isn’t a floating life-jacket float when your team’s success condition is “at least the sinking will put the fire out”…especially after the annual Mike Trout injury.
And we need to talk about Anthony Rendon’s candidacy for that Hall of Fame.
~ J-Dub, disgruntled Angels fan
OaklandLas VegasSacramento U-Haul Athletics
Original Rating: It’s Going To Be A Long Summer
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Off To A Great Start, But There’s A Lot Of Season Left
Odds To Win World Series: +350,000
Frankly, this team is the “poster child” for this format for exploring performance measured against expectation. The bottom line is this team was projected by all accounts to be a wire-to-wire cellar-dweller…and they’re not. Granted, they may still wind end at the bottom of the AL West, but no matter what happens, this team has already hit a “high-water” mark they haven’t seen since the second game of 2023…when they were .500 with a 1-1 record.
Don’t forget this fact” In 2024, the U-Haul A’s were a .500 team on May 4th. If you don’t remember that, don’t worry; nobody else does either. That’s because since then, the “Triple-A’s” have reverted to the mean, most notably by notching a fetid 5-16 mark in the last three weeks of May…and it really didn’t get any better from there. .
That’s how bad it is for the Fightin’ U-Hauls. Even the briefest sniff of non-losing baseball is big enough to make the entire 2024 season as a success.
Chicago White Sox
Original Rating: It’s Going To Be A Long Summer
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Not Too Early To Say It’s Over
Odds To Win The World Series: +499,000
When was the last time one could say the worst team in baseball wasnot the OaklandLas VegasSacramento U-HaulTriple-A’s? Here’s the biggest question concerning the Chi-Sox: When the Mighty Whiteys try to trade Eloy Jimenez, will the recipient also get the MRI machine in Chicago that’s been named for him?
National League
Contenders: Buy
Philadelphia Phillies
Original Rating: There’s Just One Thing Missing
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Just As We Expected
Odds To Win World Series: +500
What was the one thing missing from both the Philadelphia Phillies and the original Rocky Balboa? They were both tough as a cob, and hung around to the bitter end, but neither had that finishing “knock-out” punch. I’m not saying the Phillies feel like all those bad Rocky sequels in which you knew he was going to win, but I wouldn’t put my money on Clubber Lang or Ivan Drago at this point either…even with the injuries to Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Bryce Harper.
Atlanta Braves
Original Rating: Ready To Win Right Now
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Better Figure It Out Quick
Odds To Win The World Series: +800
FACT: This team is not really in danger of missing the play-offs.
FACT: This version of the Braves are a notorious second-half team.
FACT: The Braves simply have too much talent, even with the injury to Ronald Acuna, Jr., not to be considered a contender.
Plan the rest of your baseball season accordingly.
Milwaukee Brewers
Original Rating: At Least They Don’t Suck
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Off To A Great Start, But There’s A Lot Of Season Left
Odds To Win World Series: +1700
Yeah, I’m buying a team I’m on record as not believing in. Somebody’s got to win the NL Central, and as it looks right now, the only practical alternative to putting your money on Milwaukee is the previously-inconsistent St. Louis (see below). But I’m not holding any Brewer stock one second past the end of the regular season.
St. Louis Cardinals
Original Rating: Need Some Things To Go Their Way
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Not Too Early To Say It’s Over
Odds To Win World Series: +4500
Speaking of St. Louis, take everything I said about the Boston Red Sox and apply it to the Red Birds. As it stands today, St. Louis would have the 3rd wild card spot…and like I’ve said, from there anything is possible. Adding the facts the NL Central is weaker than county fair beer, the Cardinals have plenty of talent, and they are certain to be buyers at the deadline makes St. Louis the proverbial “dark horse” for the post-season.
Oh, by the way…they’ve been the best team in baseball since mid-May.
Contenders: Sell
Los Angeles Dodgers
Original Rating: Ready To Win Right Now
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Just As We Expected
Odds To Win The World Series: +300
I know those are short odds for me to be selling on the Dodgers, and there’s a simple reason I’m not buying. Not only does this team have a “cake walk” into October as they won’t be challenged in the NL West, but there’s no way a pitching staff this injury-depleted is winning a championship. Fall in love with the big bats all you want, at some point you have to get people out in October.
San Diego Padres
Original Rating: Need Some Things To Go Their Way
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Better Figure It Out Quick
Odds To Win World Series: +3000
The Friars aren’t catching the Dodgers, but they are the only squad in the NL wild card race that actually looks like they are in a play-off race. They can make October, but they won’t go far past that.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Original Rating: Ready To Win Right Now
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Better Figure It Out Quick
Odds To Win World Series: +6000
Somehow, this team added more talent to a team that represented the National League in the World Series last season, and yet they are worse for it (I’m looking at you, Jordan Montgomery). But since the NL is the “remedial league.” the Snakes simply aren’t that far out of a wild card race.
Pretender: Buy
Pittsburgh Pirates
Original Rating: At Least They Don’t Suck
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: It’s Not “Panic” Time…Yet
Odds To Win World Series: +15,000
Every pitcher in history to strike out 70 batters in the first 9 games of their MLB career while not allowing more than a dozen runs:
I’ll admit that stat is a bit “nerd-heavy,” but it illustrates that Paul Skenes is a Grade A, USDA Prime “Shut Down” pitcher. Bryan Reynolds is one of the best players in the game nobody ever talks about, Oneil Cruz is capable of other-worldly deeds, and the resurgent Andrew McCutchen adds a veteran presence to a young roster of much-better-than-you-might-think talent. This team is an even “darker horse” than the Cardinals, but they are in realistic striking distance of the last wild card spot. There’s no way the Pirates are buying at the trade deadline, but this has to be the core they’ve waiting to build around.
Cincinnati Reds
Original Rating: At Least They Don’t Suck
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: So Far, So Good
Odds To Win World Series: +10,000
Season #1 of the post-Joey Votto in the Queen City sees the Reds straddling the up and down sides of mediocrity. Even in relatively a weak division, contending is more of a dream than reality for Cincinnati. But the continued development of young talent with the right combination of “bargain priced” free agents could realize that dream sooner rather than later. But for 2024, the realistic expectation is finishing right where such a straddler should…right around .500.
Washington Nationals
Original Rating: It’s Going To Be A Long Summer
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: So Far, So Good
Odds To Win The World Series: +45,000
Like the Reds, Washington is a team building toward the future, and all signs point to that future being closer than one might think. First of all, they finally pulled the plug on Victor Robles. That meant finally admitting the sand had run through the hourglass for the last link to the “glory days,” and turning the page toward all the young talent which keeps progressing.
Pretenders: Sell
Chicago Cubs
Original Rating: Need Some Things To Go Their Way
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: It’s Not “Panic” Time…Yet
Odds To Win The World Series: +17,500
Nobody is really paying attention to what a disaster 2024 is becoming for the Cubs, because they are being out “dumpster-fired” in Chicago by the White Sox. Craig Counsell is getting a lot of the blame, but he can’t overcome bad organizational decisions like failing to address the need for a catcher and not realizing Christopher Morel should be the center fielder because Pete Crow-Armstrong belongs in Iowa. Morel just might be batting better than .200 if the Cubs would stop screwing around with trying to find a position for him
New York Mets
Original Rating: Why Wait For Next Year?
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: It’s Not “Panic” Time…Yet
Odds To Win World Series: +6600
Yeah, I know this team is hovering around .500. Yeah, I know Mets fans are clinging to whatever they usually cling to at times like this. But Pete Alonzo is as good as gone, as should many others. Don’t even try to tell me you think this team can go anywhere…
San Francisco Giants
Original Rating: Why Wait Until Next Year?
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: So Far, So Good
Odds To Win World Series: +6600
Another limp across the finish line and it may be time for Giants’ president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi to do “the honorable thing.”
Perhaps it’s this team proximity to the bay which makes them so adept at treading water. I don’t really think the Giants are content with continual mediocrity, but that’s where they are. The host of free agents signings from this past off-season failed to make San Francisco competitive (again).
Here’s the hard reality. The Giants captured three World Series in six seasons a decade ago. It’s only been three years since they won 107 games. In the nine seasons since the last championship in 2014, this team has topped the .500 mark only three times. It’s time to understand this franchise is no longer among the elites in baseball, except for it’s enormous wealth.
Miami Marlins
Original Rating: It’s Going To Be A Long Summer
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Not Too Early To Say It’s Over
Odds To Win The World Series: +200,000
Don’t kid yourself. The Luis Arraez trade was just the beginning of yet another Miami “swap meet,” even if the injury bug has bitten some of their best trade pieces. The worst part is they can’t seem to figure out moving Jazz Chisholm back to second base would sky-rocket his trade value.
Colorado Rockies
Original Rating:Why Wait For Next Year?
What Would Have Been The Memorial Day Rating: Not Too Early To Say It’s Over
Odds To Win World Series: +499,000
Despite being in the “Mile High City,” the Rockies are mired in the depths of baseball’s purgatory. This franchise is in a never-ending loop of losing, and that’s not changing anytime soon.
Got a question for our 70’s TV Sports Anchor? Got your own take? Nothing is “off-limits,” and no take is “too hot.” The only questions or comments Boyd Bergquist can’t handle are the one you don’t send him!
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[…] of a glitch, so we had to combine that milepost with Independence Day. Despite that, we still had six new categories at the “far turn” which again should be fairly […]
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