The suspicion first arose earlier in the season, maybe three months ago, early in May. It grew as the season progressed. Now I’m certain. Mike Mussina has sold his soul to the Devil.

You heard me. Like Joe Boyd (later Hardy) in the musical “Damn Yankees,” Mussina has made a deal with the Devil. How else explain the season the Yankees senior pitcher is having at the age of 39? Mussina, with a 15-7 record and 3.27 earned run average, is only five wins from the 20-win plateau that has eluded him in his 18-year career. Twice he won 19, three times 18, but never 20. No starting pitcher is in the Hall of Fame without a 20-win season on his resume. Even Dennis Eckersley, who became a relief pitcher halfway through his career, had a 20-win season.

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As the teams approach the three-quarters pole in the race for the playoffs, only one of them is sprinting so far ahead of the others that it is virtually guaranteed an October spot.

The Angels of Anaheim, Azusa and Cucamonga (younger readers, ask your parents) are racing far ahead of the field and should have no trouble winning the American League West championship. In fact, before games of Aug. 5, their so-called magic number was 39. Any combination of Angels victories and Rangers losses totaling 39 would end that race.

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Holy Naimoli!!! What hath the Tampa Bay Rays wrought?

Stu Sternberg and his baseball brain trust have turned the woeful Rays into one of this season’s best teams but better than that, the season’s best story. They are simply the most intriguing and awesome team in the majors. The Angels have a better won-lost record; the Cubs have a bigger lead. But two-thirds of the way through the season the Rays are the most stunning team. They entered August leading the American League East and threatening to upset the Red Sox-Yankees playoff tandem.

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