MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON

Quick mid-afternoon thoughts:

• A 90-win season was the hope here for the Blue Jays, but that's looking a little out of reach. It would require a 26-16 sprint to the finish (i.e., "salary drive"), and playing especially well in that 13-game stretch against the Red Sox, Tigers and Yankees that finishes off the season.
• It's bad form for any team to admit it would prefer to play a certain team in the playoffs, but you have to wonder how Detroit is looking at the American League wild-card race and cheering against their AL Central rival the Chicago White Sox, the current leaders. Since two teams from the same division can't meet in the first round, the Tigers would be left facing Oakland -- the hottest team in the American League -- if the current standings hold.
  
  Then again, if someone from the AL East wins the wild card, then the post-season newbie Tigers would be left facing either of the Evil Empires in the Division Series. That's enough to give Detroit fans pause, although between the Tigers' deep (if young) pitching and the big ballpark, it might be a favourable matchup. For what's it worth, the Tigers are 5-4 against the A's, 3-3 against the Red Sox and 1-3 against the Yankees.
• Access Vikings noted the Vikes' No. 1 pick Chad Greenway is officially out for the season. Minnesota did sign Jason Glenn, a good special-teamer, to take his spot.
• Yes, when it comes the old alma mater, yours truly can get a little over the top.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.