By Jose M. Romero

Four Game 5s. Seven ninth-inning-or later rallies, either tiebreaking or come-from-behind. Two of the most dramatic comebacks from huge deficits in postseason history. One organizational decision in September that, in the end, could have cost a team at least one win, and ultimately, the right to move on to the league championship series.

Baseball had a great opening week, I’d say. Smashing. Mind-blowing. Memorable.

The game and its commissioner don’t always get everything right, but the one-game playoff decision was good if only for one reason – it got the right teams into the American and National League Division Series.

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By Adry Torres

Despite failing to inch closer to their first NL East title since 1981 and being swept by the Atlanta Braves this weekend, the Nationals lead this week’s Fox Deportes MLB Power Rankings.

One positive for the Nationals was John Lannan’s start against the Mets last Wednesday in place of Stephen Strasburg.  It was his second outing since replacing the Washington phenom and he looked terrific, pitching into the sixth inning and limiting a weak Mets offense to no runs and five hits.

Cincinnati remains in the second among all 30 MLB teams ranked. The Reds did struggle on the road at Miami and haven’t lost that much ground on the St. Louis Cardinals, whom they lead in the NL Central by 11 games.

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By Adry Torres

Blame the media for Stephen Strasburg’s recent struggles, that’s what Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Saturday when the team officially announce that their ace’s season was coming to an end after he lasted a career-low three innings in his Friday night start against the Marlins. “The media hype on this thing has been unbelievable,” Johnson told reporters.  The Nationals, who are at the top of this week’s Fox Deportes Power Ranking, have a 5 1/2 games lead over the Atlanta Braves, who’ve won five straight and face them this weekend in D.C. in a three-game showdown.

The Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds flipped flopped this week with the Rangers taking over the two spot. Texas’ lead in the AL West shrunk over the weekend to just 3 1/2 games over the surprising Oakland A’s. Facing a possible playoffs foe in the Tampa Bay Rays on the road, the Rangers were held to just five runs this weekend as they lost two of three to the Rays.

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By Adry Torres

New York - Add Texas Rangers third baseman Mike Olt to the list of top prospects that the Tigres del Licey will stroll out when the club opens up the Dominican winter league season in October.

Fellow Rangers prospect and shortstop Jurickson Profar had already been given permission to join Licey this winter in the Dominican Republic along with a trio of Atlanta Braves prospects - pitchers Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado and catcher Christian Bentancourt.

Olt recently told Fox Deportes while the Rangers were in New York that he can’t wait to get down there to play where he will spend a month and perhaps more before he returns home to work out.

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By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For FOX Deportes

The votes are counted, the managers have made their picks and save for two more roster spots, the MLB All-Star teams are chosen.

There will be some injury replacements, guys who probably deserved more consideration and fan votes in the first place but might get their ticket to the party anyway.

You will see a replacement for the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp, voted in as a starter. It’ll be an outfielder.

You shouldn’t have to see more than one Chicago Cubs player, but you will – two were named to the NL team. Congrats to Bryan LaHair, but the worst team in the National League shouldn’t have two players.  Starlin Castro was the most deserving Cub.

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