Rankings/List

It's now the month of August meaning it's the official start of the baseball pennant race.

There are still many teams in contention for a playoff spot, especially in the National League.

Some teams are running away with playoff spots, some are close, and some are fighting to stay alive.

What are the chances of each remaining contending team to the make the playoffs and why or why not? Find out here.

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Back in 2001, the first "article" I ever wrote about baseball was an amateurish ditty comparing the 2001 rookie class to a great rookie class of a generation ago, the 1986 rookie class.

I am reminded of that article in 2010 as an endless stream of amazingly talented can't-miss prospects spills into Major League Baseball.

THE NUMBERS GAME
 
Start 'Em :

As far as yielding excellent first round talent, the MLB Amateur Draft has been inconsistent for the New York Mets. The Mets up and down draft day success could be comparable to a roller coaster.

Great first round picks have come and gone for the New York Mets in between even more mediocre to below average first round selections. But when the Mets have experienced successful first round selections, those players flourished.

Here is a compilation of the best first round draft picks in Mets history.

Now that the trade deadline has passed, the final two months of the season begin to take their course. Now that the All-Star break has passed, it's interesting to see if any frontrunners have fallen or any new faces have made shocking gains.

Except for Ubaldo Jimenez, this is not really the case. The NL frontrunners remain the same top four as it has been all season, though the rankings of the AL may be a surprise.

Fans in every city throughout the league know full well who the stars in baseball are. They're instantly recognizable with their gaudy stats, household names, and exorbitant contracts. As if immortals descended from Mount Olympus to thrill us with their power, grace, and athletic prowess, these men sell the jerseys and pack the stadiums.

Teams aren't just constructed of high-profile stars however. Players possessing a variety of skill sets are vital to a well-balanced team.

The New York Yankees acquired three veterans by the July 31st trade deadline. The three players are Austin Kearns, Kerry Wood from the Cleveland Indians, and Lance Berkman from the Houston Astros.

Last year, the Yankees acquired Jerry Hairston Jr., and he was a key to their World Series Championship.

We all know these three new Yankees can play, but will they be able to shine in the city that never sleeps?

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The trade deadline usually brings hope to teams who make good deals and improve their ball club enough to be serious playoff or World Series contenders.

On the other side of the coin, the trade deadline also leaves some fans scratching their heads, wondering why their team didn't make the deal for a big bat or arm.

Let's take a look at the five teams who left us scratching our heads on Saturday.

Check out my 5 winners article here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/427888-five-winners-at-the-2010-mlb-trade-deadline

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