Race to the Playoffs: Look at the NL East

Quick look at the NL East as of now. This race to the playoffs should be one for the books. Let's take a look at the standings.

1st Place: Washington Nationals
As of now, the Washington Nationals are in first place with a record a few games over .500. Currently on a skid, look for the Nationals to go neck and neck with the Mets until the very end of the season. Winner takes the division.

2nd Place: New York Mets
Only a single game behind the Nationals, the Mets are in a pretty good position to be in 2nd place. Along with challenging the Nationals , the Mets are 3 games behind the last wild card spot. If you can't get one , make sure you get the other.

3rd Place: Atlanta Braves
Nine games below .500, it looks as if the Braves are a long shot from making the playoffs. It's not impossible, but it will be a hard.

4th Place: Miami Marlins
Almost 20 games behind .500 , the Marlins need to begin to focus on finishing strong and preparing for next season. With Fernandez and Stanton fully healthy, next year the Marlins can take a bigger leap if they add a few pieces.

Last: Philadelphia Phillies 
Over under 20 games behind .500, the Phillies are in a rebuilding stage. With their new draft picks, look for them to focus on developing their players and building a younger core.

Look at AL Central

As the now , the AL Central looks to be dominated by the Royals.  For the remainder of the season, the rest of the teams will be playing for a chance to earn a wild card spot.Let's take a quick look at the standings.

1st Place: Kansas City Royals
Kansas City is a contender. Currently 20 games over .500 , the Royals are in a great position. As long as they keep up the pace, they should have the #1 seed in the American League. After having seven players on the American League All-Star , it's no wonder  why the Royals are dominating as such.

2nd Place: Minnesota Twins

Eric Hosmer of the Kansas City Royals

Currently eight games behind the Royals , the Minnesota Twins have put themselves in a solid position to contend for the wild card, currently holding on for dear life for the last and final wild card spot. In order to hold onto the last wild card spot, the Twins must improve, only winning 4 out of their last 10 games.

3rd Place: Detriot Tigers
While 3 games under .500, the Tigers are only 3.5 games back from a spot in the wild card. They will need Miguel Cabrera and others will have to step it up and make a run!

4th Place: The Chicago WhiteSox
Also 3 games under .500, the WhiteSox also must make a run to get into the wild card. In their last 10 games, the WhiteSox are on a roll, winning the last 7 out of 10 games. Don't be surprised if the WhiteSox earn a playoff spot.

Last: Cleveland Indians 
While the Indians are a whooping 14.5 games back, they are not completely out out it. There are only 3 games behind the WhiteSox and Tigers, which are both teams still in the hunt for a wild card spot. The closer they get to those teams, the closer they get to a chance to make the playoffs. Next week, the Indians have an important series against the Twins. This may be their last opportunity.

A look at the AL East

As the now , the AL East is considerably close and should stay that way for the remainder of the rest of the season. Let's take a quick look at the standings.

1st Place : New York Yankees
The Yankees are on a hot streak! Winning 7 out of their last 10 games, look for them to really get it together to win the division. Health and Alex Rodriguez's solid performance will be key as they look to make a run if in the playoffs.

2nd Place: Toronto Blue Jays
At nearly .500, the Blue Jays are keeping their heads above water. If the Yankees continue to play well, the Blue Jays will look to earn a wild card spot.

3rd Place:  Tampa Bay Rays
Currently one game behind the Blue Jays , the Rays haven't performed up to par like usual. However, they are definitely still in the hunt. They will need to make a solid run in attempt to get in better position towards making the playoffs.

4th Place: Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles aren't in bad position. They are currently only half a game back from the Rays and a game and a half from the Blue Jays. Currently only winning 3 out of the last 10, they will need to win , they will need to get on winning streak.

Last: Boston Red Sox
Right now, Boston is just not looking good. With a 43-55 record, the Red Sox may need to focus on trying to improve over the off-season: unless they make a heck of a run.

The AL East should be very interesting throughout the month of August, seeing as these teams are so close. One good run and propel a team to first, while one losing streak can drastically change the standings.

DakTronics

First discovered as a word on the  NBA shot clock, curiosity struck while I was attending a Miami Heat game. Above the numbers of the shot clock appeared one word: "Daktronics". Never heard of that company before. What  exactly is Daktronics?

History

Born in 1968  at South Dakota State University, two professors by the name of Drs. Aelred Kurtenbach and Duane Sander founded the company. By 1971, the company created their first sports board. By 1994, they entered the stock market.  At the top of the sports technology industry, Daktronics is a company that is responsible for making LED signs.  From theme parks to local high schools , Daktronics products can be seen. Let's take a closer look at how their products impact the sports world as we know it.

Being an electronic based company in this day and age, companies such as these can and will always find business. Daktronics have sold products in each of the following sports:  Aquatics , baseball, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, lacrosse, motorsports, pari-mutuel, rodeo, rugby, soccer, squash, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling. In other words, almost every sport you can imagine.

NBA

Their biggest sports customers are the NBA. Teams such as the Heat, Hawks , Warriors, Bulls , Thunder and Mavericks use Daktronic's services.

"Daktronics NBA Installations

11 of 29 NBA facilities have Daktronics integrated super systems.
19 of 29 NBA facilities have Daktronics scoring and/or display equipment." (via darktronics.com)

According to Daktronics here's the number of teams that use their products: As we can see, Daktronics has most products in most NBA teams. While Daktronics dominate in scoring/display equipment, companies like ANC Sports have managed to create competition for Daktronics in this field. With that being said, per systems do not hinder their success in the bigger picture at all.
From high schools to professional teams, Daktronics has made a name for themselves. In the fiscal year of 2015, Daktronics made a total of $616 million dollars in revenue. Not too bad for just a name atop of the shot clock.

NHL

"Daktronics  NHL Installations

18 of 30 NHL facilities have Daktronics integrated super systems.
23 of 30 NHL facilities have Daktronics scoring and/or display equipment."(via darktronics.com)

IF you think their presence is large in the NBA, take a look at the stats for the NHL. Over 76% of NHL teams use Daktronics scoring equipment. It would be more difficult to make a list of teams that DON'T use Daktronics equipment.  

Windy City's Real $$$ Team

Fresh off of the wave of the NBA Finals in which ABC had it's highest ratings of viewers about 50 years. While the madness of the NBA finals occurred, another finals was taking place: the NHL finals. For the Chicago Blackhawks , this was their third finals appearance in the last five seasons. What is the first team that most fans think of when you say the city Chicago? The Bulls? Cubs? Bears? Those are some amazing organizations, but the major team in this millennium is none other than the Chicago Blackhawks.

Tail End of the Wind.

Even though the Blackhawks are tied for 2nd in the city for most championships, they are second to last on the net worth chart. Granted, the value of a team tends to be determined in more ways than simply winning. Popularity, age, and contribution to their respected sports all play a part. However, it's hard for one to imagine that championship doesn't necessarily equate  to being the top of your city.

List of Chicago Teams:

Chicago Blackhawks Championships (2010, 2013,2015)

Chicago Bulls   Championships(1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)

Chicago White Sox Championships( 1906, 1917, 2005)

Chicago Bears Championships(1985)

Chicago Cubs Championships(1907, 1908)

History

While the Blackhaws aren't the most money making in the city, there are a few reasons as to why this is the case. For one, hockey is not as popular sport. According ESPN, hockey lies behind baseball, football, and basketball. Chicago has tradition in all three.

Baseball
Both the Chicago Cubs and the Whitesox have been around forever. The White Sox were founded in 1901, and the Cubs followed suit in 1903.  These two clubs have provided baseball for many generations of familes throughout the Chi. The most recent superstar to date for either team was slugger Sammy Sosa. In addition to the team, Chicago's very famous Wrigly field is one of the oldest ball parks in Major League Baseball.

Football

The Bears are and always will be a topic of discussion when pertaining to football. One of the oldest teams in the NFL, the Bears have made themselves a staple in the NFL as one of the most traditional teams. The Bears have allowed names such as Walter Payton , Gale Sayers, and Mike Ditka thrive and flourish in football. The 1985 Bears are considered by some as the greatest NFL team ever.

Basketball

This section shall be short and straight to the point. Michael Jordan. Greatest player ever. Chicago Bulls. Six championships in the same decade.

Climbing Up Willis Tower 

Although the Blackhawks are not the most popular team in the city, they are surely on the rise. According to statisa.com, the Blackhawks' value has risen from $168 million to $825 million in a short span of eigth years. Look for this value to increase , as they are the 2015  Stanley Cup Champions. As long as the Blackhawks stay competitive , they will stay relevant within the city. Both the WhiteSox and Cubs are fighting to make their ways back to the playoffs, the Bears are on the verge of blowing up the team, and the Bulls are still just short of true contention. If this pattern continues, by 2025 the city of Chicago will claim the Blackhawks as the real money team.

Role of a NBA General Manager

Jobs in the sports industry are few and far in between to come by, especially in a professional league. Although most people are unaware of the many different positions,  many fans know about three management positions: the coach , the general manager, and the owner. Whenever our favorite team is not performing up to our standards, we tend to call for the heads of one those people. The position we will be highlighting is the General Manager.

What does a general manager do??
Being a general manager in the NBA contains one major requirement: be well-rounded. Depending on a team's situation, the general manager is the account, the play personnel , the counselor , the scout, and the negotiator.

Accounting
For most NBA managers, this is their main focus. The general manager must make sure that the team is financially in good shape. In doing so , the balance between spending money now on current players and saving money for future potential players is something that a general manager must constantly be thinking about.   Based on the money, the general manager is forced to make contract decisions for both staff and the players.

Sign, Release,  & Trade
Everyone wants the best players on their team, and everyone are almost willing to do whatever it takes in order for them to get those players. Example: A team that may be nowhere near a position to content for a championship in the near future may for a strategy to get rid of the higher paid older players and trade them for draft picks. If this is not possible, another strategy is able to simply try to get better each year and build through the NBA Draft. In recent time, teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors used this strategy to become as successful as they currently are. Then there are cases such as the Boston Celtics in 2007 and what the Miami Heat did in 2010. These teams performed trades that got three great players to join together in order to contend immediately.

Psychology
This category has to be one of the most underrated in sports. It's one thing to get a group of good players together , and it's another to get a group of players that WORK TOGETHER WELL. Earlier this year, the Dallas Mavericks traded for Rajon Rondo. On paper, this is a really good fit for the Mavericks. Rondo brings solid defense and a great ability to make plays for people, and with scorers such as Monte Ellis and Dirk, one would thing that he can take the Mavs to another level. However, this season did not go as planned for the Mavs. Rondo and the Mavs management were bumping heads, in which Rondo was just not happy playing in Dallas. The unhappiness was clear, and his performance on the court was proof of that. This is one example displaying that chemistry is something that GM's must think about before adding/removing a player from a team. How will they fit with the other guys in the locker room? Do they represent what the organization stands for?

As we can see, general managers have to deal with a number of things. Would you be able to handle the pressure?

Sports & Technology: ANC Sports

In each and every major professional arena/stadium across the country, what is one thing that you see? Think about it for a minute, and you just may come up with:  huge LCD screen. Well, this gigantic screen is also known as a  signage. In the sports world, there is one major company that is responsible for the majority of these screens, and they are called: ANC Sports.

ANC Sports is a company that installs  signage solutions for "teams, leagues, and venues". In addition to providing installation, ANC provides service and operation, as well as creating the content for organizations.   Using their own patented software, ANC Sports signage can be seen in over 200 sports complexes. These signages are present in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL.  There are two main types of signages that ANC uses that cater to particular sports: the courtside signage and the field level signage.

Courtside Signage & Field-Level Signage
The "courtside signage" is in over 66% of the NBA.  These organizations have three options in which they can choose from: LED, DLP, and Rotational. Here is a chart that displays some of the major features that come with the three:

LED	DLP	Rotational
Real-time Stats	Customizable Padding	Ability to move all modules
Unlimited Crowd Prompts	Seamless Connection from table to table	Holds 18-20 advertisements
New Sponsor Inventory	50-inch display to 16:9 ratio	1 second rotation speed per banner
Portable Modules	Full HD Resolution	Custom built scores table
Waterproof/durable Modules	Electronic Image Alignment	Programmable schedules for automatic operation
	Automatic Color and Brightness Balancing	Low Production Cost

The Field Level Signages are using LED and Rotational , which is especially good for baseball and soccer. These are two sports in which rotation is heavily needed in order for the players and audience to all have the ability to see information simultaneously.

ANC Sports is the leader in the sports and technology industry when pertaining to display screens. Making an estimated 60 million dollars per year, (via Sports Business Journal) , ANC Sports is truly a company that impacts the technological world of sports.

Astros turning future promise to present day production

For the last almost half decade the Houston Astros have been a complete and utter laughing stock of the MLB and have been the poster child for on-field incompetence across most majors sports leagues. But while the major league product meanders their way through the regular season, hope was being in the minor league created through savvy trades and quality draft choices by Houston Astros GM Jeff Luhnow. By building a building a quality farm system most MLB teams would envy, Luhnow was able to pull of a trade for Atlanta Braves slugger Evan Gattis for right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, third baseman Rio Ruiz and right-hander Andrew Thurman. Gattis' position is yet to be determined, but his power bat that includes 43 HRs over the past two seasons with the Braves is not in question. Beyond the on-field production that the  Gattis trade brings it also dawns a new era in Astros baseball that involves less hope for the future and more present day results.

Astros mantra for the awhile has seemed to be "wait 'til next year" or "wait 'til these prospects reach the majors, " but this mindset combined with a major local TV negotiation feud that left the majority of the Houston area without Astros games for a number of seasons has lead to waning fan interest. Now with some of the promised young talent actually reaching the majors, George Springer in particular, along with trades have resulted in what looks to be in a major league lineup that can actually compete in the American League. The days of hoping and wishing for the Astros to be produce are replaced with real expectations of winning and competing for a playoff wildcard spot this season. All that's left now is to wait and see if all of these moves result in something for Astros other than the comedy of errors the team has made famous over the past several seasons.