The Pecan Park Eagle

Back in the day when eight-team leagues times two were The Big Leagues, we had to hope for a pennant race in the National circuit that would keep fans excited until the winner faced off against the New York Yankees in the World Series. With some exceptions, it seems that the Yankees usually had the American League pennant wrapped up by the All Star Break. It may not have happened to the nth degree that way, but it happened often enough to have implanted that global memory in eye and ear witness brains like mine. All those “Damn Yankees” did back then was win!

Short of time and good ideas this morning, I thought it would be interesting to take a look through the glass darkly at the biggest losers in the 2010 season, via their records, to determine who might be involved in an inverse pennant race. In this little slice of fantasy, the two worst teams in each league get to play in the World Series of Losers – with the loser of that one taking the title as Baseball’s Biggest Loser.

It’s a very simple competition, but this year, our Houston Astros are very much involved in the thick of all competition. Here are the biggest competitors, as of the morning this is written, Sunday, June 27, 2010:

BASEBALL’S BIGGEST LOSER RACE, 2010

AMERICAN LEAGUE

1. Baltimore Orioles (22-52, .297)

2. Cleveland Indians (26-47, .356) 4.5 games behind

3. Kansas City Royals (31-44, .413) 8.5 games behind

4. Seattle Mariners (31-43) .419) 9 games behind

NATIONAL LEAGUE

1. Pittsburgh Pirates (25-49, .338)

2t Arizona Diamondbacks (29-46, .387) 3.5 games behind

2t Houston Astros (29-46, .387) 3.5 games behind

4. Chicago Cubs (32-42, .432) 7 games behind

Have a fun Sunday, everybody. If you are a fan of any of the above listed clubs, just don’t look through the dark glass for too long. Dwelling on the negative has the same effect upon the general population as the mention of “1908” does upon Chicago Cubs fans. It generates an existential panic that eventually institutionalizes itself in the heart of the beholder.