Opinion

While some teams have just about punched their ticket to the postseason, there are others that are struggling during the last month of the regular season. So who are the MLB teams in need of a big weekend to remain in the playoff race? 

Milwaukee Brewers 

Though the offense is seemingly everyone's favorite topic when talking about the miserable season that 2014 has been, the bullpen may be the most crippling facet of this team that isn't being discussed. That is not to say that the Reds offense is good; rather, it's to suggest that the Reds offense is good enough to compete in the current landscape of MLB.

The New York Yankees need a face-lift.

It's time for things to change in the Bronx. While the team has continually avoided ultimate disaster for the past few seasons—"ultimate disaster" being a losing record—these rosters have come far too close to being a complete mess.

In reality, they've been a small spill. A tipped-over glass, if you will. There's no use crying over spilled milk, but there's plenty of reason to question why the liquid hit the floor.

The San Francisco Giants are in the midst of a playoff push. If successful, their fans could be in for another magical postseason run.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy is a master of motivating his players and getting the most out of them when it counts. He led the Giants to two World Series titles, even though they were usually the underdog throughout the playoffs.

Although the focus should be on the rest of this season and rightfully so, it is never too early to look at what happens after the season is concluded.

Used to be that Francisco Rodriguez was done. Right?

Sizzle slipping from his heater. Relegated to then-closer John Axford's setup man in 2011 and '12, and Jim Henderson's in '13. Going, going...

The Seattle Mariners called up seven players from Triple-A Tacoma to boost a push toward the postseason, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times and other media reports.  

With the final month of baseball under way, some playoff races have yet to be determined.

There are two divisions that have been fights all year long.

Cal Ripken Jr. and Brian Anderson break down which two divisions have the closest races and are full of talent.

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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The Chicago Cubs are ticketed for another last-place finish in the National League Central this year, but there won’t be a more exciting team to watch over the final month of the season.

1. Bruce Bochy Moving Up Charts with a Bullet

Late last Wednesday night, manager Bruce Bochy and his coaches gathered in private in the San Francisco clubhouse for a quiet champagne toast.   

It's 2008, and I’m on a rooftop at a high-end bar called the Sky Lounge. It’s the chief attraction at the Gaslamp Marriott Hotel, a five-star joint kitty-corner to one of baseball’s newest cathedrals, Petco Park.