Posted by Brian Joseph on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 1:09 pm

Yesterday, we took a look at what it’s going to take for the National League teams to get to the postseason. Today, let’s look at the American League, where it’s unlikely anything under 90 wins will be good enough unless you are in the American League Central.

To give an idea of where each team stands, here’s an estimate of what it will take to win each division or claim the Wild Card:

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Wins Window / Target: 96-100 / 98

New York Yankees (61-38, .616)

Target Record: 37-26, .587

With three serious contenders in the AL East, there won’t be any coasting into the postseason for these clubs. The Yankees spent a ton of cash in the offseason to put them in this position and stand a good chance of returning to the playoffs after a one-year absence.

Boston Red Sox (58-40, .592)

Target Record: 40-24, .625

Built for the postseason, the Red Sox won’t sweat falling short in the race for the East if they grab a Wild Card spot. Heck, right now that would line them up with the Angels who they own in the playoffs, anyway.

Tampa Bay Rays (54-46, .540)

Target Record: 44-18, .710

Sure, Tampa Bay has a ray of hope. However, expecting both Boston and New York to collapse down the stretch is a little much, don’t you think? That means the Rays would likely have to play better than .700 ball the rest of the way to leap both clubs.

Toronto Blue Jays (49-51, .490)

Target Record: 49-13, .790

Once the “Will the Blue Jays trade Roy Halladay?” saga is over, expect the Blue Jays to make little noise in the second half when it comes to the playoffs.

Baltimore Orioles (42-56, .429)

Target Record: 56-8, .875

The question in B-more isn’t will the Orioles make the playoffs? It’s will Dave Trembley save his job?

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Wins Window / Target: 84-88 / 86

Detroit Tigers (52-46, .531)

Target Record: 34-30, .531

This race is still wide open and the Tigers have found some arms to fill out their rotation and put them at the head of the Central class… for now. Can they stay there? It should only take 86 wins to lock up the Central — barring two teams getting ridiculously hot — which could happen for Detroit if they match the rest of the season’s performance.

Chicago White Sox (51-49, .510)

Target Record: 35-27, .565

The race here is tight and the White Sox are in the thick of it. They trail the Tigers by just two games and wouldn’t have to blow the doors off of everyone to get to 86 wins.

Minnesota Twins (50-50, .500)

Target Record: 36-26, .581

Can you ever count the Twins out? They have “wins” in their name! Plus, they have the best manager in baseball in Ron Gardenhire.

Cleveland Indians (42-58, .420)

Target Record: 44-18, .710

Like the Rays, the Indians would have to play over .700 ball the rest of the way to climb out of the gigantic hole they dug for themselves. Plus, they would have to pass three — not two — teams to win the Central. The difference is none of those teams are the Yankees or Red Sox. That makes their monumental task just a smidge easier… but not much easier.

Kansas City Royals (39-59, .398)

Target Record: 47-17, .734

Zack Greinke is really good! (Mom said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”)

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

Wins Window / Target: 93-97 / 95

Los Angeles Angels (58-40, .592)

Target Record: 37-27, .578

Even with the curse that comes along with the ancient tiki that Bobby (Abreu) gave the Angels Bunch, somehow this club finds themselves in first place in the West. Granted, the West isn’t that good but it’s not like the Rangers didn’t show up to play this year and the Mariners are respectable, too. Plus, I’m sure you thought the A’s were good because of whatever magical spell Billy Beane has cast over the baseball world.

Texas Rangers (55-42, .567)

Target Record: 40-25, .615

They faded down the stretch last year. Will they do the same this year? The pitching is better but a slumping Josh Hamilton brings this offensive force down a peg.

Seattle Mariners (51-48, .515)

Target Record: 44-19, .698

Maybe if both the Angels and Rangers hit the skids and this target drops by 3-5 wins would the Mariners have a real shot at this division. The problem here is this team scores less than the Chess Club at a high school dance.

Oakland Athletics (41-57, .418)

Target Record: 54-10, .844

Let me get this straight. You could have started the year with a rotation of Rich Harden, Joe Blanton, Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson. Instead, you had Braden, Cahill, Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland and Josh Outman? Oh, that added Eric Patterson, Josh Donaldson, Adrian Cardenas, Matt Spencer, Corey Wimberly and Scott Hairston to your roster? Man, I can’t figure out how this team doesn’t score any runs.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD

Wins Window / Target: 92-96 / 94

Team (Target Record) [Division Leaders in Italics]

e-New York Yankees (33-30, .524)
w-Los Angeles Angels (36-28, .563)
Boston Red Sox (36-28, .563)
Texas Rangers (39-26, .600)
Tampa Bay Rays (40-22, .645)
c-Detroit Tigers (42-22, .656)
Seattle Mariners (43-20, .683)
Chicago White Sox (43-19, .694)
Minnesota Twins (44-18, .710)
Toronto Blue Jays (45-17, .726)
Baltimore Orioles (52-12, .813)
Oakland Athletics (53-11, .828)
Cleveland Indians (52-10, .839)
Kansas City Royals (55-9, .859)