Preparing for the stretch run

By Jordan Dee Sports Central Columnist

"And down the stretch they come..."

With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline just days away, playoff hopefuls around Major League Baseball are loading up for a final push at the postseason. Some teams will, no doubt, dispatch young prospects in exchange for what they believe is their final piece of a championship puzzle.

This begs the question, "What are the components necessary to win a World Series?"

Pitching and defense used to be the standard answer. However, each contender this season has its own idea of what it will take to reach the goal every team sets on Day One of Spring Training -- winning a title.

Here is a look at what some of the contenders have done to bolster their teams and their chances at the postseason:

AL East

Both the Yankees and Red Sox added left-handed bullpen help. Jesse Orosco, at age 45, will serve as a specialist on the way to Armando Benitez and Mariano Rivera. Former Pirate Scott Sauerbeck could be a much-needed setup man for Boston, who also acquired Byung-Hyun Kim in May to close. Give the nod here to New York who brought in veteran Ruben Sierra as a bat off the bench (and a worthy replacement in the absence of Bernie Williams).

AL Central

The first-place Royals (no, that's not a misprint) appear ready to make a run with the same roster that got them to this point. Although the addition of Curtis Leskanic will help a young bullpen (which includes two rookies), the short-winded starting pitching may cause the Royals to fold late. The White Sox will be glad they acquired Roberto Alomar, who should perform much better outside of New York. Carl Everett adds more pop to one of the least-productive offenses in the American League.

AL West

Mariners' fans have long forgotten Randy Johnson, A-Rod, and Ken Griffey, Jr. Apparently, they have also forgotten that Freddy Garcia is not the same pitcher he was last year. Luckily for manager Bob Melvin, the second-place A's have the weakest lineup in the AL West. Look for A's GM Billy Beane to work his magic, giving his team a chance down the stretch.

NL East

The Braves will take their 12th-consecutive division title. However, unlike the last 11, this year's team relies on offense. Even catcher Javy Lopez is having a career-year at the plate for the Bravos. The emergence of pitcher Russ Ortiz will need to continue if they have visions of a championship. The Phillies, gearing up for a wildcard run, added Pirates closer Mike Williams. A 6.00+ ERA will most likely relegate the veteran right-hander to setup duty.

NL Central

With Cardinals' righty Matt Morris out for the season, this division will become a two-horse race. The Cubs, looking to replace injured center fielder Corey Patterson, added postseason veteran Kenny Lofton. With three aces on their pitching staff (Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, and Carlos Zambrano), the Cubs will be in it at the end. Houston's Killer B's can only do so much at the plate. The 'Stros must add some starting pitching to get to Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner.

NL West

Power hitting (Barry Bonds) and power pitching (Jason Schmidt) have the Giants poised for another championship run. The Dodgers and Diamondbacks are trying to get in via the wildcard. Los Angeles didn't upgrade all that much yet, but Jeromy Burnitz will be a presence in a dreadful offense. However, the addition of Shea Hillenbrand and the return of Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson make the D-Backs instant contenders.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.