Only two teams have made the playoffs every year since the strike ended--the Yankees and the Braves.  Every year, especially with the Braves, people think that the party will finally end, and every year they're back atop their division, and 2005 saw managers Joe Torre and Bobby Cox do the best jobs of their careers.  But this year, it looks like it really might be the end game.  For the Braves, it's 2/5ths of the way thru the season, but they're already 10 games behind a Mets team that appears to be the real deal (they're also 6 1/2 behind the Phillies, but you can always count on the Phils to collapse at some point).  The pitching just isn't there, and unless Glavine and Pedro get hurt or get old in a hurry, the Mets may finally break the Braves decade-and-a-half stranglehold on their division (NL West 1991-93, East 1995-2005).  The Yankees are 9 games above .500, but with long-term injuries to Sheffield and Matsui, along with Mussina being the only consistent battle-tested pitcher to go for them down the stretch, and the Blue Jays getting AJ Burnett back, and the Red Sox hanging on them even with Papi struggling, the Yanks may actually finish out of the postseason, something unfathomable to most people in spring training.

On the other hand, the Tigers, after 63 games, still have baseball's best record, and they have the pitching depth to contend down the stretch, even in a division as defiantly rugged as the AL Central (no matter what their records, playing one-third of your games against the ChiSox, Tribe, and Twins is brutal).  The only mark of concern is their poor record against Boston, NY, and Chicago, but chalk that up to inexperience playing in big-time situations (Kenny Rogers and Ivan Rodriguez excepted).  The Tigers also don't have huge expectations, having not had a winning season since 1993.  Their fans would be disappointed, but still happy, with a 90-72 season if that's how it happened.  The Reds, despite losing three straight, are still very much in the mix.  Pujols' injury puts the Cardinals' status very much in jeopardy and if not the Cards, is any team worthy of winning that division?  No, so why not the Reds' lineup of big bashers and a suddenly solid rotation (that bullpen is still very much a concern).  If Pujols is out for another couple months, don't be surprised if 87-89 wins is enough to win the division, and don't be surprised if it's the Reds who do it.