He may have the biggest ears in baseballTampa Bay --> Evan Longoria
All but technically, Tampa has won the AL East. Boston sits 5.5 games back, and it would take a minor miracle to overcome the gap (see: Philadelphia '07). Therefore, they don't need to push the pitching staff to overcome anything, and the offense just needs to continue getting by. However, the Rays want more than a division crown, and if they are thinking World Series, they need Longoria healthy. If he comes back and gives them two or three healthy weeks, the Rays are poised to make noise in October. Without him, they're punchless.
Boston --> Jason Bay
It's go time for the Sox as they have to hold off Chicago and Minnesota for the Wild Card berth. Bay is going to have to produce. He replaced Manny, and now, he has to produce like Manny. Otherwise, the Red Sox are looking at an early-exit. Beckett and his health is a close second, but I believe Lester and Daisuke can handle the rotation enough to push the Red Sox far enough. Bay needs to produce (and so far, he has) to take up any slack given up by Ortiz and to complement Youkilis.
Chicago --> Paul Konerko
This season hasn't been a good one for Konerko, but any bad memories can be erased with a good September. Quentin, Dye, and Thome have held this team up all season, and expecting them to continue their massive efforts may be too much. If Konerko can find a way to get back to producing, he'll take pressure off the other three and keep away a feisty Twins team.
Minnesota --> The Whole Rotation
If Minnesota wants to overtake the White Sox, the young guys have to keep stepping up. If Liriano, Slowey, Baker, Blackburn, or Perkins falter, then the more experienced staff and offense in Chicago will walk away with the division. If they can stay strong, they can pull it off because they can't count on their offense.
Los Angeles --> Torii Hunter
Teixeira is a nice option for this, but you know he'll be there in the final month like he always is. Also, it's not like the Angels are in a desperate situation. So why Hunter? He hasn't been as good as advertised, and if the Angels really want to win, they need Hunter to give them that last push. Guerrero and Teixiera should be okay, but they need Hunter to be that other dependable, veteran presence in the middle of that order.
New York Mets --> Oliver Perez
Mr. Enigma needs to be enigmatically good over the next month. I don't know how much you can count on Pedro to be the No.2. Perez has the talent, and now's the time for him, the Mets, and his next contract.
Philadelphia --> Brett Myers
He has to continue to pitch like the ace he's been since the All-Star Break. If he doesn't, it will be tough for the Phillies to edge out the Mets for the division. Then, it will be even tougher to get past the 1-2 punches of Chicago, Arizona, and Milwaukee in the playoffs.
Florida --> Done
Chicago --> Jeff Samardzija, Kerry Wood, and Carlos Marmol
The Cubs are going to make the playoffs, and they'll probably win the Central. To win the World Series, they need the Fearsome Threesome to keep spinning hitters away. They've been nasty, and in the playoffs, great bullpens win big games. If one falters, it will put more pressure on the other two. Right now, they can count on each other, and that's the way it needs to stay.
Milwaukee --> CC Sabathia
The Brewers are going to make the playoffs. It's just a matter of how. When they get there, they need CC to be better than last year (1-2, 8.80 ERA, 15.1 IP in 3 starts). Otherwise, they don't have enough of a rotation to win without him.
St. Louis --> Done
Arizona --> Max Scherzer
He needs to be the Carlos Marmol, the Manny Corpas, the Adam Wainwright for this year's Diamondbacks. Their bullpen is the biggest question mark, and he could go a long way in shoring it up.
Los Angeles Dodgers --> Manny Ramirez
No one else has more pressure to produce than this guy. They love him now, but will they love him in October? Can he even get them to October?
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