Preview/Prediction

NEW YORK: The Mets have let two straight opportunities get by, losing a series to the Marlins after winning the first game.

Each of the last two days, the Phillies lost and the Mets lost games they could have and should have won easily.

Ironically, the team that tried to help them out are the Houston Astros, whom the Mets begin a series with tonight.

The Astros have had a very bad season, and a dreadful first half. They got off to an 0-8 start and were 17 games under .500 at the All-Star break.

Manny Ramirez and his 20-year-old bat have been placed on waivers...now what?

According to sources close to the Dodgers, the veteran slugger has been placed on waivers for the Los Angeles Dodgers to work out a trade (if he is claimed, that is). 

If you are unfamiliar with waivers, let's see how it works:

Any player can be put on waivers by his team, and the player does not need to be informed.

As reported earlier, the Dodgers placed five players on waivers before finishing a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. However, the moves on the roster should not be taken as an act of desperation to possibly make the playoffs this season.

For the past two seasons, 162 games were not enough to crown the AL Central Division Champion.

In 2008, the Chicago White Sox hosted game 163 at U.S. Cellular Field, defeating the Minnesota Twins 1-0 on a Jim Thome home run. 

In 2009, the Detroit Tigers were leading the division by three games with a mere 10 games remaining, including a four game against the second place Twins.

For most teams, the 2010 MLB season is pretty much done. But don't fret. Here are some teams that will make a big impact in 2011.

Pittsburgh Pirates:

This one might be a little tricky, as "bouncing back" for them is maybe getting to .500 baseball.

However, Pittsburgh has a nice little youth movement going currently. Andre McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, Jose Tabata, and Lastings Milledge.

As the 2010 Regular Season is drawing to a close, the National League Wild Card Hunt begins in earnest.

The San Francisco Giants have been trying to catch the division leading Padres all season, without success.

Up for grabs is the NL Wild Card, and there is a host of very strong teams competing for this post season pass.

Do the Giants have what it takes to beat out the rest of the clubs and claim the NL Wild Card for playoff berth?

New York Yankees' starter Phil Hughes is closing in on his pitching limit, which seems to be around 200 innings.

Hughes, 24, has currently pitched 140 and 2/3 innings this year.

At this rate, he would have to miss one start before the start of the playoffs if New York makes it (which they probably will).

He is currently 15-5 with an ERA of 3.90, great stats in preparation for October. 

Now the question is will Hughes be starting in October?

As the White Sox have hit a bump in the road, their arch nemesis, the Minnesota Twins, has been surging.

With less than a week left until September, the White Sox find themselves 3.5 games behind the Twins in the AL Central race.

Already, the articles have been flowing, calling the White Sox done. The tombstone has been placed and all but the official date of elimination etched in.

NEW YORK-- Although many believed the Mets were out of the playoff race, that may not totally be the case. Yes, it's going to be tough to overcome, but coupled with last night's Phillies loss, the Mets are now seven back in the Wild Card race.

At one point, it seemed they were forever sinking into oblivion. What could keep the Mets in a wild race that has seven teams within 7.5 games, is the way they play at home.

After losing the first game, the New York Yankees demolished the Blue Jays at home in Toronto on Tuesday night.

Marcus Thames, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Curtis Granderson, and Mark Teixeira all homered in the affair.

Wednesday night’s game determines the series; both teams want to win but are on very different paths.

The Blue Jays have a chip on their shoulder. My guess is because Toronto resides in the AL East, which diminishes any hopes at a playoff berth.