The Races

I'm really bored so I'm going to write a post. Does anyone actually read this, or is it just a place for Aidan to vent?
Edit, Aidan G: People read this.
Edit, Spencer R: Alright, who?

AL East:
The Damn Yankees have run away with this one, and they are now 7 games ahead of the Red Sox. But what did you expect, having shelled out $423.5 million in the offseason. The Sox have one more series with the Yanks at the end of September, but unless anything major (i.e. a big winning streak for Boston coupled with a big losing streak from New York), this series will be all but meaningless in the East race.
Key Series: September 25-27 at New York

AL Central:
What happened to the Central being the strongest division? Its leader, the Detroit Tigers, are 66-58 but still 3.5 games up on the Chicago White Sox. The winning percentage alone of these teams makes the Central the weakest division in the majors. The Minnesota Twins are 4.5 games behind the Tigers, making this an intriguing, 3-way race. Even so, it's quite a leap from last year for the Tigers, who finished in last place in 2008.
Key Series: September 28-October 1 vs. Minnesota, October 2-4 vs. Chicago

AL West:
The Los Angeles Angels are 5 games ahead of the Texas Rangers for the lead, and they have the second-best record in the majors. Then it's Seattle, which is 11 games behind.
Key Series: September 28-October 1 vs. Texas

AL Wild Card:
There are 3 teams really in contention here: The Boston Red Sox, the Texas Rangers, and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Sox are in first, the Rangers are 1.5 games behind and the Rays are 3 games behind.
Key Series: Boston vs. Tampa Bay September 11-13, Texas vs. Tampa Bay September 25-27

NL East:
No question. The reigning champ Philadelphia is going to win the division again. They are 7 games up on the Atlanta Braves for 1st place. Also, the Phils have a very easy schedule going forward, no Cardinals or Dodgers. Don't count out the Marlins either, they're just a game back of the Braves.
Key Series: September 18-20 at Atlanta.
PS. The Mets are not even worth mentioning here

NL Central:
Somehow the St. Louis Cardinals ran away with this one. Oh yeah, the addition of Matt Holliday probably helped. And having Chris Carpenter healthy and dominant. And the fact that the Cubs have crashed and burned majorly. The Cardinals are 8 games up on them.
Key Series: really none, but Sept 18-20 vs. Chicago

NL West:
Intriguing race here. The LA Dodgers started out the season on fire, but have cooled off a bit recently. The Colorado Rockies have done the opposite, heating up since the ASG and tightening the race to 3 games. If the Rocks keep this up, this could go down to the wire. The Giants are also 7 games back of LA.
Key Series: Oct 2-4 vs. Colorado, and right now vs. Colorado

NL Wild Card:
This is a 4-team spread, with the Rockies in first, the San Francisco Giants 4 games back, Atlanta 4.5 games back, and Florida 5.5 behind. This could go anyway, given the Colorado's second-half surge, but also the Giants' superior starting pitching.
Key Series: Colorado vs. SF Sept. 28-30 and Oct. 14-16. Atlanta vs. Florida Sept 30-Oct 3