Well, the Angels' Magic Number has now gotten down to single digits...9 and it isn't officially Labor Day yet!!! Not in my wildest imagination...
2008 Pennant Races
- Thread starter BillD1984
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That's quite an accomplishment! Let's try to pick the date the Angels clinch. I'll say next Tuesday (Sept. 9).
8/31/08*****4 Weeks left...........................28 days left in the regular season**********
AL EAST
Tampa Bay...........................84-51....................- (Magic number: 22)
Boston.................................79-57...................5.5
AL CENTRAL
Chicago...............................77-59....................- (Magic number: 26)
Minnesota...........................77-60....................0.5
AL WEST
Los Angeles.........................83-53....................- (Magic number: 9)
Texas...................................67-71...................17
Seattle- ELIMINATED
AL WILDCARD
Boston................................79-57.....................- (Magic number: 24)
Minnesota...........................77-60....................2.5
New York............................72-64.....................7
ALDS Matchups
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
(1)Tampa Bay vs. (3)Chicago
(2)Los Angeles vs. (4)Boston
***************************************************************
NL EAST
New York..............................76-61......................- (Magic number: 25)
Philadelphia..........................75-62......................1
Florida...................................69-68......................7
NL CENTRAL
Chicago...................................85-52.......................- (Magic number: 22)
Milwaukee...............................80-56......................4.5
Pittsburgh- ELIMINATED
NL WEST
Arizona....................................69-67......................- (Magic number:24)
Los Angeles.............................67-70.....................2.5
Colorado..................................64-74.......................6
NL WILDCARD
Milwaukee......................................80-56.................- (Magic number:21)
Philadelphia....................................75-62................5.5
St. Louis.........................................74-63.................6.5
San Diego- ELIMINATED
Washington- ELIMINATED
NLDS Matchups
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
(1)Chicago vs. (3)Arizona
(2)New York vs. (4)Milwaukee
AL EAST
Tampa Bay...........................84-51....................- (Magic number: 22)
Boston.................................79-57...................5.5
AL CENTRAL
Chicago...............................77-59....................- (Magic number: 26)
Minnesota...........................77-60....................0.5
AL WEST
Los Angeles.........................83-53....................- (Magic number: 9)
Texas...................................67-71...................17
Seattle- ELIMINATED
AL WILDCARD
Boston................................79-57.....................- (Magic number: 24)
Minnesota...........................77-60....................2.5
New York............................72-64.....................7
ALDS Matchups
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
(1)Tampa Bay vs. (3)Chicago
(2)Los Angeles vs. (4)Boston
***************************************************************
NL EAST
New York..............................76-61......................- (Magic number: 25)
Philadelphia..........................75-62......................1
Florida...................................69-68......................7
NL CENTRAL
Chicago...................................85-52.......................- (Magic number: 22)
Milwaukee...............................80-56......................4.5
Pittsburgh- ELIMINATED
NL WEST
Arizona....................................69-67......................- (Magic number:24)
Los Angeles.............................67-70.....................2.5
Colorado..................................64-74.......................6
NL WILDCARD
Milwaukee......................................80-56.................- (Magic number:21)
Philadelphia....................................75-62................5.5
St. Louis.........................................74-63.................6.5
San Diego- ELIMINATED
Washington- ELIMINATED
NLDS Matchups
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
(1)Chicago vs. (3)Arizona
(2)New York vs. (4)Milwaukee
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And down go the Padres.
They never recovered from the one-game playoff loss to the Rockies, IMO.
They never recovered from the one-game playoff loss to the Rockies, IMO.
This weeks key series:
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
NYY-DET (Mon.- makeup game)
CHW-CLE (M-Tu-W)
BAL-BOS (M-Tu-W)
NYY-TB (Tu-W-Th)
MIN-TOR (Tu-W-Th)
TB-TOR (F-Sa-Su)
BOS-TEX (F-Sa-Su)
DET-MIN (F-Sa-Su)
LAA-CHW (F-Sa-Su)
NYY-SEA (F-Sa-Su)
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
HOU-CHC (M-Tu-W)
PHI-WSH (M-Tu-W)
STL-ARZ (M-Tu-W)
SD-LAD (M-Tu-W)
SD-MIL (Th-F-Sa-Su)
CHC-CIN (F-Sa-Su)
PHI-NYM (F-Sa-Su)
ARZ-LAD (F-Sa-Su)
FLA-STL (F-Sa-Su)
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
NYY-DET (Mon.- makeup game)
CHW-CLE (M-Tu-W)
BAL-BOS (M-Tu-W)
NYY-TB (Tu-W-Th)
MIN-TOR (Tu-W-Th)
TB-TOR (F-Sa-Su)
BOS-TEX (F-Sa-Su)
DET-MIN (F-Sa-Su)
LAA-CHW (F-Sa-Su)
NYY-SEA (F-Sa-Su)
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
HOU-CHC (M-Tu-W)
PHI-WSH (M-Tu-W)
STL-ARZ (M-Tu-W)
SD-LAD (M-Tu-W)
SD-MIL (Th-F-Sa-Su)
CHC-CIN (F-Sa-Su)
PHI-NYM (F-Sa-Su)
ARZ-LAD (F-Sa-Su)
FLA-STL (F-Sa-Su)
This is an interesting MLB.com piece about Labor Day (historically a very important checkpoint) and the pennant races:
Labor Day serves as an informal cutoff date for various things. Time to put away the summer whites. Time for vacations to end and school to begin. Time for playoff pretenders to fade and leave center stage for the contenders.
It also means time is running out on the season, as historically, teams that are in front at the end of the first Monday in September go on to reach the playoffs more than 70 percent of the time.
That kind of success rate would put somebody in the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately for the frontrunner, it's no guarantee, as the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets reminded the baseball world last season.
The Rockies, in fourth place and five games out on Labor Day, rode a 14-1 winning streak that began on Sept. 16 to win the Wild Card berth. The Mets went the opposite direction. New York, leading Philadelphia by five in the National League East on Labor Day, blew a 7 1/2 game lead in the final two weeks as the Phillies took the division crown.
The Mets are in first place again this year, leading the Phillies, but by a smaller margin than last season. The Rockies are under .500 but like last year, within single digits of the NL West lead.
If any team has a chance to buck the Labor Day odds in 2008, it might be an encore from the Rockies.
In the bunched up NL West, where only Arizona has a winning record, the Rockies have been giving indications they might be ready to pull off another September surprise. Their winning percentage since the All-Star break (25-15, .625 entering Saturday night's game) was the third best in the National League, trailing only the Cubs and Brewers. The Rockies have won 11 of their last 15 games and four consecutive series.
They are as healthy as they've been all season, and Colorado's September schedule includes 15 home games and just nine road games. Of Colorado's three remaining road series (San Francisco, Atlanta and Arizona), the Diamondbacks are the only opponent the Rockies will face that has a winning record.
The odds, however, are still against Colorado.
Leading on Labor Day is where teams want to be, and this year that's the Rays (AL East), White Sox (AL Central), Angels (AL West), Red Sox (AL Wild Card), Mets (NL East), Cubs (NL Central), Diamondbacks (NL West) and Brewers (NL Wild Card).
Since baseball expanded the playoffs in 1995, 86 of 112 leaders (in a division or Wild Card standings) went on to reach the playoffs. That's a 76.7 percent success rate for the teams on top when the fireworks subsided on Labor Day. Conversely, only 17.9 percent of the leaders, or 20 teams, missed the playoffs after leading on Labor Day.
Sixty-six of the 79 Labor Day division leaders (counting ties) during the last 13 years were eventually crowned division champions. Of the 13 that did not win a division race, four went on to capture a Wild Card berth and nine (11.3 percent) missed the playoffs altogether. Two of those came last year, when the Mets led the NL East and the Padres held a one-game lead over Arizona in the NL West on Labor Day.
Leading the Wild Card standings on Labor Day has more often than not meant a playoff berth, but it's not as lopsided as the numbers for division leaders.
The good news for the Wild Card-leading Red Sox and Brewers is that of the 29 Labor Day Wild Card leaders during the past 13 seasons, nine were not leading when the season ended, and yet three of those made the playoffs as division champions. Six of the 29, or 21 percent, missed the playoffs.
On the other hand, it isn't hopeless for those hopefuls not in first place on Labor Day.
In 11 of the past 13 seasons, at least one team not leading a division or the Wild Card on Labor Day has wound up making the playoffs. The only years it didn't happen were 1999 and 2006.
In 1999, Labor Day fell on Sept. 6, with the Yankees, Indians, Rangers, Braves, Astros and Diamondbacks as division leaders and the Red Sox and Mets in first in the Wild Card standings. The Mets were up by four games on Cincinnati, but the two teams were tied at the end of the regular season, forcing a one-game playoff, which the Mets won, 5-0, to capture the Wild Card.
In 2006, the Labor Day leaders were the Yankees, Tigers, Athletics, Twins, Mets, Cardinals, Dodgers and Padres. All made the playoffs.
The success rate of division leaders on Labor Day bodes well for the Rays and Cubs, who have the best record in the AL and NL, respectively.
The Rays, who lost 96 games last year, have a shot at a historic turnaround. They are on pace for 100 wins, which would be a 34-game improvement from last season. Only two teams in baseball history have had a greater improvement from one season to the next: The '99 Diamondbacks (+35.0) and the 1903 New York Giants (+34.5).
The Brewers and Red Sox aren't home free. The Wild Card races in recent years have often gone down to the wire, and as such, being on top in that race on Labor Day is certainly no guarantee of a ticket to the October dance.
Besides last year, when Colorado's rise jumbled the NL Wild Card race on the final weekend of the season, there have been other wild Wild Card scrambles:
• The Phillies led the Astros and Marlins by 2 1/2 games in the NL Wild Card standings on Labor Day, 2005. The Astros won the Wild Card.
• In 2004, the Cubs led San Francisco by a half game and Houston by 1 1/2 games in the NL Wild Card. The Astros wound up winning it.
• In 2003, Seattle led Boston by one game in the AL Wild Card on Labor Day, but Boston won the race.
• In 2002, the Dodgers enjoyed a 2 1/2-game lead on the Giants in the NL Wild Card on Labor Day, but the Giants went on to win the Wild Card and reach the World Series.
• In 2001, St. Louis overcame a three-game deficit in the Wild Card race (the Cubs led on Labor Day with the Giants in second place) to win the playoff spot.
• In 2000, the Indians led the AL Wild Card standings on Labor Day, only to be caught and passed by the Mariners.
That wasn't the first time the Mariners had come from behind after trailing on Labor Day to reach the playoffs. Seattle trailed the Angels by 6 1/2 games on Labor Day in 1995 before going on a 17-7 run to tie the Angels and force a one-game playoff. The Mariners and Randy Johnson won, 9-1, to give Seattle the AL West title. No team has overcome a bigger Labor Day deficit to win a division crown during the past 11 years.
When the Cardinals came back from third place and three games back to win the Wild Card in 2001, it was the largest Labor Day deficit any team has overcome en route to the Wild Card until the Rockies topped it with their historic run last season.
Fans of the Rays, White Sox, Angels, Red Sox, Mets, Cubs, Diamondbacks and Brewers should take note of the Labor Day standings for another reason. For the last 30 years, every World Series-winning team either led a division or the Wild Card on Labor Day. Not since the 1978 New York Yankees has a team won the World Series without leading a race on Labor Day.
Labor Day serves as an informal cutoff date for various things. Time to put away the summer whites. Time for vacations to end and school to begin. Time for playoff pretenders to fade and leave center stage for the contenders.
It also means time is running out on the season, as historically, teams that are in front at the end of the first Monday in September go on to reach the playoffs more than 70 percent of the time.
That kind of success rate would put somebody in the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately for the frontrunner, it's no guarantee, as the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets reminded the baseball world last season.
The Rockies, in fourth place and five games out on Labor Day, rode a 14-1 winning streak that began on Sept. 16 to win the Wild Card berth. The Mets went the opposite direction. New York, leading Philadelphia by five in the National League East on Labor Day, blew a 7 1/2 game lead in the final two weeks as the Phillies took the division crown.
The Mets are in first place again this year, leading the Phillies, but by a smaller margin than last season. The Rockies are under .500 but like last year, within single digits of the NL West lead.
If any team has a chance to buck the Labor Day odds in 2008, it might be an encore from the Rockies.
In the bunched up NL West, where only Arizona has a winning record, the Rockies have been giving indications they might be ready to pull off another September surprise. Their winning percentage since the All-Star break (25-15, .625 entering Saturday night's game) was the third best in the National League, trailing only the Cubs and Brewers. The Rockies have won 11 of their last 15 games and four consecutive series.
They are as healthy as they've been all season, and Colorado's September schedule includes 15 home games and just nine road games. Of Colorado's three remaining road series (San Francisco, Atlanta and Arizona), the Diamondbacks are the only opponent the Rockies will face that has a winning record.
The odds, however, are still against Colorado.
Leading on Labor Day is where teams want to be, and this year that's the Rays (AL East), White Sox (AL Central), Angels (AL West), Red Sox (AL Wild Card), Mets (NL East), Cubs (NL Central), Diamondbacks (NL West) and Brewers (NL Wild Card).
Since baseball expanded the playoffs in 1995, 86 of 112 leaders (in a division or Wild Card standings) went on to reach the playoffs. That's a 76.7 percent success rate for the teams on top when the fireworks subsided on Labor Day. Conversely, only 17.9 percent of the leaders, or 20 teams, missed the playoffs after leading on Labor Day.
Sixty-six of the 79 Labor Day division leaders (counting ties) during the last 13 years were eventually crowned division champions. Of the 13 that did not win a division race, four went on to capture a Wild Card berth and nine (11.3 percent) missed the playoffs altogether. Two of those came last year, when the Mets led the NL East and the Padres held a one-game lead over Arizona in the NL West on Labor Day.
Leading the Wild Card standings on Labor Day has more often than not meant a playoff berth, but it's not as lopsided as the numbers for division leaders.
The good news for the Wild Card-leading Red Sox and Brewers is that of the 29 Labor Day Wild Card leaders during the past 13 seasons, nine were not leading when the season ended, and yet three of those made the playoffs as division champions. Six of the 29, or 21 percent, missed the playoffs.
On the other hand, it isn't hopeless for those hopefuls not in first place on Labor Day.
In 11 of the past 13 seasons, at least one team not leading a division or the Wild Card on Labor Day has wound up making the playoffs. The only years it didn't happen were 1999 and 2006.
In 1999, Labor Day fell on Sept. 6, with the Yankees, Indians, Rangers, Braves, Astros and Diamondbacks as division leaders and the Red Sox and Mets in first in the Wild Card standings. The Mets were up by four games on Cincinnati, but the two teams were tied at the end of the regular season, forcing a one-game playoff, which the Mets won, 5-0, to capture the Wild Card.
In 2006, the Labor Day leaders were the Yankees, Tigers, Athletics, Twins, Mets, Cardinals, Dodgers and Padres. All made the playoffs.
The success rate of division leaders on Labor Day bodes well for the Rays and Cubs, who have the best record in the AL and NL, respectively.
The Rays, who lost 96 games last year, have a shot at a historic turnaround. They are on pace for 100 wins, which would be a 34-game improvement from last season. Only two teams in baseball history have had a greater improvement from one season to the next: The '99 Diamondbacks (+35.0) and the 1903 New York Giants (+34.5).
The Brewers and Red Sox aren't home free. The Wild Card races in recent years have often gone down to the wire, and as such, being on top in that race on Labor Day is certainly no guarantee of a ticket to the October dance.
Besides last year, when Colorado's rise jumbled the NL Wild Card race on the final weekend of the season, there have been other wild Wild Card scrambles:
• The Phillies led the Astros and Marlins by 2 1/2 games in the NL Wild Card standings on Labor Day, 2005. The Astros won the Wild Card.
• In 2004, the Cubs led San Francisco by a half game and Houston by 1 1/2 games in the NL Wild Card. The Astros wound up winning it.
• In 2003, Seattle led Boston by one game in the AL Wild Card on Labor Day, but Boston won the race.
• In 2002, the Dodgers enjoyed a 2 1/2-game lead on the Giants in the NL Wild Card on Labor Day, but the Giants went on to win the Wild Card and reach the World Series.
• In 2001, St. Louis overcame a three-game deficit in the Wild Card race (the Cubs led on Labor Day with the Giants in second place) to win the playoff spot.
• In 2000, the Indians led the AL Wild Card standings on Labor Day, only to be caught and passed by the Mariners.
That wasn't the first time the Mariners had come from behind after trailing on Labor Day to reach the playoffs. Seattle trailed the Angels by 6 1/2 games on Labor Day in 1995 before going on a 17-7 run to tie the Angels and force a one-game playoff. The Mariners and Randy Johnson won, 9-1, to give Seattle the AL West title. No team has overcome a bigger Labor Day deficit to win a division crown during the past 11 years.
When the Cardinals came back from third place and three games back to win the Wild Card in 2001, it was the largest Labor Day deficit any team has overcome en route to the Wild Card until the Rockies topped it with their historic run last season.
Fans of the Rays, White Sox, Angels, Red Sox, Mets, Cubs, Diamondbacks and Brewers should take note of the Labor Day standings for another reason. For the last 30 years, every World Series-winning team either led a division or the Wild Card on Labor Day. Not since the 1978 New York Yankees has a team won the World Series without leading a race on Labor Day.
September road map: Motoring through the pennant races
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Sept. 5: Homecoming in Minnesota! [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Load up on the laundry detergent, and look out, walleye ... the Twins finally are back from a 14-game, 15-day road trip caused partly by the Republican National Convention's week in the Twin Cities. Maybe it's a good thing Gov. Tim Pawlenty wasn't named as John McCain's vice-presidential candidate -- the Twins might need him to call in the state's National Guard to help battle the White Sox in the AL Central. [/FONT]
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Sept. 7: Greg Maddux and No. 355 [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]As Los Angeles finishes a key series with Arizona in Dodger Stadium -- the final time these two NL West rivals play in 2008 -- Maddux can pass Roger Clemens and move into seventh place on the all-time wins list. Once -- if -- he reaches No. 355, Maddux will have won more games than any right-hander since Grover Cleveland Alexander hung 'em up in 1930. How cool is that? Added bonus: There isn't even a hint of steroid suspicion with Maddux. The greatest right-hander of our generation? Yes! [/FONT]
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Sept. 8-10: Tampa Bay at Boston [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]The Rays' training wheels will be permanently removed in Fenway Park this week -- no matter what happens -- as manager Joe Maddon's team continues pushing for its first division title. The team with baseball's best record has passed every test this year, but the Rays still have never been through anything like a tense September series in Fenway. One possible added boost: Phenom David Price, who still could become this year's Joba Chamberlain, might join the Rays this series after he's finished pitching for Triple-A Durham in this week's Governor's Cup playoffs. [/FONT]
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Sept. 11: Angels clinch? [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]After spending the summer running the rest of the AL West through the shredder, the runaway Angels will become the first division winner to pop the champagne corks. Current projected date is when the Mariners come to town. Then perhaps the Angels, who have played so heavenly, can find some healing powers for the hamstrings of second baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar. Memories of last season's painful early October exit -- Gary Matthews Jr., Bartolo Colon, Garret Anderson and Casey Kotchman all were ailing -- still serve as a cautionary tale that, this time of year, danger lurks around every corner. [/FONT]
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Sept. 11-14: Milwaukee at Philadelphia [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Look, if Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and the rest of the Phillies are going to do a reverse of last year and allow the Mets to pass them for the NL East title -- that's Question No. 1 -- then the least they can do is get cracking on Question No. 2: Can they overtake the Brewers in the NL wild-card chase? Answer: Not unless they ambush Ned Yost's team in Philly this weekend. [/FONT]
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Sept. 14: Atlanta at Mets [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]In Shea Stadium, follow the bouncing Mets' utilityman, Damion Easley. No current major leaguer has played in more regular-season games than Easley without ever sniffing the playoffs (current count: 1,695 through, appropriately, Labor Day). He signed with the Mets last year specifically to get to the playoffs. Then he wrecked his ankle last Aug. 18 and was lost for the season ... and it wouldn't have mattered anyway, the way the Mets gagged their final 17 days. Easley and the Mets have a chance at redemption in these final two weeks. [/FONT]
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Sept. 15-17: Boston at Tampa Bay [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]One week after a crucial AL East series, the Red Sox and Rays do it again in Tampa and the ramifications will only be larger for the AL East title and likely relating to the AL wild-card chase. And if you can score a ticket to one of the games, remember: The Rays are the only team in baseball guaranteeing that, if you catch a home run ball from a Tampa player, you can get it autographed before you leave the park. Not so sure the traveling Red Sox Nation would be interested in, say, a Rocco Baldelli-signed ball -- especially if it clinches the AL East for Tampa. [/FONT]
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Sept. 16-18: Milwaukee at Cubs [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Best bet is that the Cubs win the NL Central and the Brewers snag the NL wild card. But we all remember how Milwaukee faded in final two weeks last year. Biggest difference now: starting pitcher CC Sabathia, who has taken center stage as the Round Mound of Milwaukee's Rebound. Brewers starting pitchers were 17-5 with a 2.49 ERA during Milwaukee's 20-7 August, and if Sabathia, Ben Sheets and the underrated David Bush keep that up, these six Milwaukee-Chicago games in the season's final 13 days will be great fun. [/FONT]
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Sept. 18-21: Minnesota at Tampa Bay [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Biggest homestand in Tampa Bay history continues as the Twins follow Boston into Tropicana Field. This is where the additions of veterans Cliff Floyd, Troy Percival and Eric Hinske should begin to pay huge dividends as talented, young -- but inexperienced -- Rays such as B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria hang on for the ride of their life. [/FONT]
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Sept. 21: Baltimore at Yankees [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Final game in Yankee Stadium before they blow it up! Cue Frank Sinatra and New York, New York one more time while historians sob their eyes out. At their present pace, the Yanks will have been eliminated from both the division title and wild-card picture by now. Oh well, at least Alex Rodriguez will be free to join Madonna on her world tour in October! (By the way, if the Mets don't win the NL East, they'll close down Shea Stadium one week from today, on Sept. 28 against the Marlins. But they can't gag again. Can they?) [/FONT]
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Sept. 22: Brandon Webb vs. St. Louis [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]And unlike his first two attempts at his 20th win, Arizona's ace and the NL Cy Young leader had better bring his 'A' game. The Diamondbacks can't win if Webb, Danny Haren and Randy Johnson don't pitch well, and by now, time will be running out. [/FONT]
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Sept. 23-25: Chicago White Sox at Minnesota [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]If the Twins having played 24 of their past 30 games on the road doesn't mortally wound them -- and so far, so good, for Ron Gardenhire's club as it moved into a tie for first with the White Sox on Labor Day -- this showdown series will decide the AL Central title. Added bonus: White Sox outfielders Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye and Minnesota's Justin Morneau will be making final statements in the AL MVP running (as will Boston's Dustin Pedroia against Cleveland and Texas' Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley against Oakland). [/FONT]
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Sept. 26-28: Cubs at Milwaukee [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]By now, Lou Piniella's Cubs should be resting peacefully to enter playoffs fresh. Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Rich Harden should be on plush beds feather pillows, protein shakes and soothing, new-age music while awaiting October. Milwaukee? You don't think the Brewers will blow playoff chance this weekend, do you? [/FONT]
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Sept. 26-28: Yankees at Red Sox [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]OK, so the Yankees will be eliminated by now. But how much do you think Joe Girardi's club would enjoy it if it could knock Big Papi David Ortiz and Boston right out of the wild-card slot on the season's final weekend? It's against the rules, but don't be surprised if the Steinbrenner boys offer bonuses to all if the Yankees could achieve that! [/FONT]
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Sept. 28: Cliff Lee goes for 25? [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]At his current pace, Cleveland ace Lee, a lock for the AL Cy Young Award, will finish 25-2. Will it happen? Probably not, because "current pace" has a way of changing. But while the Indians make offseason plans, Lee might have a lot to say about who plays in October: Right now, his final three starts are scheduled against contenders Minnesota, Boston and the White Sox -- on this, the final day of the season. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Load up on the laundry detergent, and look out, walleye ... the Twins finally are back from a 14-game, 15-day road trip caused partly by the Republican National Convention's week in the Twin Cities. Maybe it's a good thing Gov. Tim Pawlenty wasn't named as John McCain's vice-presidential candidate -- the Twins might need him to call in the state's National Guard to help battle the White Sox in the AL Central. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]As Los Angeles finishes a key series with Arizona in Dodger Stadium -- the final time these two NL West rivals play in 2008 -- Maddux can pass Roger Clemens and move into seventh place on the all-time wins list. Once -- if -- he reaches No. 355, Maddux will have won more games than any right-hander since Grover Cleveland Alexander hung 'em up in 1930. How cool is that? Added bonus: There isn't even a hint of steroid suspicion with Maddux. The greatest right-hander of our generation? Yes! [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]The Rays' training wheels will be permanently removed in Fenway Park this week -- no matter what happens -- as manager Joe Maddon's team continues pushing for its first division title. The team with baseball's best record has passed every test this year, but the Rays still have never been through anything like a tense September series in Fenway. One possible added boost: Phenom David Price, who still could become this year's Joba Chamberlain, might join the Rays this series after he's finished pitching for Triple-A Durham in this week's Governor's Cup playoffs. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]After spending the summer running the rest of the AL West through the shredder, the runaway Angels will become the first division winner to pop the champagne corks. Current projected date is when the Mariners come to town. Then perhaps the Angels, who have played so heavenly, can find some healing powers for the hamstrings of second baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar. Memories of last season's painful early October exit -- Gary Matthews Jr., Bartolo Colon, Garret Anderson and Casey Kotchman all were ailing -- still serve as a cautionary tale that, this time of year, danger lurks around every corner. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Look, if Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and the rest of the Phillies are going to do a reverse of last year and allow the Mets to pass them for the NL East title -- that's Question No. 1 -- then the least they can do is get cracking on Question No. 2: Can they overtake the Brewers in the NL wild-card chase? Answer: Not unless they ambush Ned Yost's team in Philly this weekend. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]In Shea Stadium, follow the bouncing Mets' utilityman, Damion Easley. No current major leaguer has played in more regular-season games than Easley without ever sniffing the playoffs (current count: 1,695 through, appropriately, Labor Day). He signed with the Mets last year specifically to get to the playoffs. Then he wrecked his ankle last Aug. 18 and was lost for the season ... and it wouldn't have mattered anyway, the way the Mets gagged their final 17 days. Easley and the Mets have a chance at redemption in these final two weeks. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]One week after a crucial AL East series, the Red Sox and Rays do it again in Tampa and the ramifications will only be larger for the AL East title and likely relating to the AL wild-card chase. And if you can score a ticket to one of the games, remember: The Rays are the only team in baseball guaranteeing that, if you catch a home run ball from a Tampa player, you can get it autographed before you leave the park. Not so sure the traveling Red Sox Nation would be interested in, say, a Rocco Baldelli-signed ball -- especially if it clinches the AL East for Tampa. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Best bet is that the Cubs win the NL Central and the Brewers snag the NL wild card. But we all remember how Milwaukee faded in final two weeks last year. Biggest difference now: starting pitcher CC Sabathia, who has taken center stage as the Round Mound of Milwaukee's Rebound. Brewers starting pitchers were 17-5 with a 2.49 ERA during Milwaukee's 20-7 August, and if Sabathia, Ben Sheets and the underrated David Bush keep that up, these six Milwaukee-Chicago games in the season's final 13 days will be great fun. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Biggest homestand in Tampa Bay history continues as the Twins follow Boston into Tropicana Field. This is where the additions of veterans Cliff Floyd, Troy Percival and Eric Hinske should begin to pay huge dividends as talented, young -- but inexperienced -- Rays such as B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria hang on for the ride of their life. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Final game in Yankee Stadium before they blow it up! Cue Frank Sinatra and New York, New York one more time while historians sob their eyes out. At their present pace, the Yanks will have been eliminated from both the division title and wild-card picture by now. Oh well, at least Alex Rodriguez will be free to join Madonna on her world tour in October! (By the way, if the Mets don't win the NL East, they'll close down Shea Stadium one week from today, on Sept. 28 against the Marlins. But they can't gag again. Can they?) [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]And unlike his first two attempts at his 20th win, Arizona's ace and the NL Cy Young leader had better bring his 'A' game. The Diamondbacks can't win if Webb, Danny Haren and Randy Johnson don't pitch well, and by now, time will be running out. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]If the Twins having played 24 of their past 30 games on the road doesn't mortally wound them -- and so far, so good, for Ron Gardenhire's club as it moved into a tie for first with the White Sox on Labor Day -- this showdown series will decide the AL Central title. Added bonus: White Sox outfielders Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye and Minnesota's Justin Morneau will be making final statements in the AL MVP running (as will Boston's Dustin Pedroia against Cleveland and Texas' Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley against Oakland). [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]By now, Lou Piniella's Cubs should be resting peacefully to enter playoffs fresh. Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Rich Harden should be on plush beds feather pillows, protein shakes and soothing, new-age music while awaiting October. Milwaukee? You don't think the Brewers will blow playoff chance this weekend, do you? [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]OK, so the Yankees will be eliminated by now. But how much do you think Joe Girardi's club would enjoy it if it could knock Big Papi David Ortiz and Boston right out of the wild-card slot on the season's final weekend? It's against the rules, but don't be surprised if the Steinbrenner boys offer bonuses to all if the Yankees could achieve that! [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]At his current pace, Cleveland ace Lee, a lock for the AL Cy Young Award, will finish 25-2. Will it happen? Probably not, because "current pace" has a way of changing. But while the Indians make offseason plans, Lee might have a lot to say about who plays in October: Right now, his final three starts are scheduled against contenders Minnesota, Boston and the White Sox -- on this, the final day of the season. [/FONT]
What's going on in the National League right now? On the positive side, Dodgers have won five in a row, Mets four in a row, and the Astros, who are trying to become this year's Rockies, have won eight in a row. On the negative side, the Cubs have lost 5 in a row, the Brewers four in a row, and both the Cardinals and D-Backs are only 3-7 in their last ten games.
This is what the standings look like going into this weekend:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST: The Rays lead the Red sox by 3.5 games.
CENTRAL: The White Sox lead the Twins by 1.5 games.
WEST: The Angels magic number is down to 6.
WILDCARD: The Red Sox lead the Twins by 5.5 games, and the Yankees by 7.5 games.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST: The Mets lead the Phillies by 3 games. They meet each other for three games at Shea starting Friday.
CENTRAL: The Cubs lead the Brewers by 5 games.
WEST: The D-Backs lead the dodgers by 1.5 games. They meet each other for three games in LA starting Friday.
WILDCARD: The Brewers lead the Phillies by 4 games, the Cardinals by 5 games, and the Astros by 6 games.
This is what the standings look like going into this weekend:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST: The Rays lead the Red sox by 3.5 games.
CENTRAL: The White Sox lead the Twins by 1.5 games.
WEST: The Angels magic number is down to 6.
WILDCARD: The Red Sox lead the Twins by 5.5 games, and the Yankees by 7.5 games.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST: The Mets lead the Phillies by 3 games. They meet each other for three games at Shea starting Friday.
CENTRAL: The Cubs lead the Brewers by 5 games.
WEST: The D-Backs lead the dodgers by 1.5 games. They meet each other for three games in LA starting Friday.
WILDCARD: The Brewers lead the Phillies by 4 games, the Cardinals by 5 games, and the Astros by 6 games.
I will be at Shea tonight and Sunday night to watch my Mets sweep the Phillies and take a commanding 6 game lead . . . the September blues are over in Queens!
9/7/08*****3 Weeks left.........................21 Days left in the regular season*********
AL EAST
Tampa Bay.................85-56..................- (Magic Number: 20)
Boston.......................84-58.................1.5
Baltimore- ELIMINATED
AL CENTRAL
Chicago.....................80-62...................- (Magic Number: 18)
Minnesota.................78-65..................2.5
AL WEST
Los Angeles................86-56.................- (Magic Number: 3)
Texas.........................70-74.................17
Oakland and Seattle- ELIMINATED
AL WILDCARD
Boston........................84-58.................- (Magic Number: 14)
Minnesota...................78-65...............6.5
Toronto.......................76-66...............8
New York....................76-67...............8.5
Kansas City and Seattle- ELIMINATED
ALDS Matchups
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
(1)Los Angeles vs. (4)Boston
(2)Tampa Bay vs. (3)Chicago
*******************************************************
NL EAST
New York.....................80-63......................- (Magic Number: 18)
Philadelphia................78-65.......................2
Washington- ELIMINATED
NL CENTRAL
Chicago.......................86-57......................- (Magic Number: 16)
Milwaukee...................82-61......................4
Cincinnati and Pittsburgh- ELIMINATED
NL WEST
Los Angeles.................73-70.......................- (Magic Number: 19)
Arizona........................71-71......................1.5
Colorado.....................67-77......................6.5
NL WILDCARD
Milwaukee....................82-61......................- (Magic Number: 16)
Philadelphia.................78-65......................4
St. Louis......................77-66......................5
Houston......................76-67......................6
Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Washington, and San Diego- ELIMINATED
NLDS Matchups
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
(1)Chicago vs. (3)Los Angeles
(2)New York vs. (4)Milwaukee
AL EAST
Tampa Bay.................85-56..................- (Magic Number: 20)
Boston.......................84-58.................1.5
Baltimore- ELIMINATED
AL CENTRAL
Chicago.....................80-62...................- (Magic Number: 18)
Minnesota.................78-65..................2.5
AL WEST
Los Angeles................86-56.................- (Magic Number: 3)
Texas.........................70-74.................17
Oakland and Seattle- ELIMINATED
AL WILDCARD
Boston........................84-58.................- (Magic Number: 14)
Minnesota...................78-65...............6.5
Toronto.......................76-66...............8
New York....................76-67...............8.5
Kansas City and Seattle- ELIMINATED
ALDS Matchups
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
(1)Los Angeles vs. (4)Boston
(2)Tampa Bay vs. (3)Chicago
*******************************************************
NL EAST
New York.....................80-63......................- (Magic Number: 18)
Philadelphia................78-65.......................2
Washington- ELIMINATED
NL CENTRAL
Chicago.......................86-57......................- (Magic Number: 16)
Milwaukee...................82-61......................4
Cincinnati and Pittsburgh- ELIMINATED
NL WEST
Los Angeles.................73-70.......................- (Magic Number: 19)
Arizona........................71-71......................1.5
Colorado.....................67-77......................6.5
NL WILDCARD
Milwaukee....................82-61......................- (Magic Number: 16)
Philadelphia.................78-65......................4
St. Louis......................77-66......................5
Houston......................76-67......................6
Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Washington, and San Diego- ELIMINATED
NLDS Matchups
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY:
(1)Chicago vs. (3)Los Angeles
(2)New York vs. (4)Milwaukee
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This week's key series:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
TB-BOS (M-Tu-W)
TOR-CHW (M-Tu-W-Th)
NYY-LAA (M-Tu-W)
KC-MIN (Tu-W-Th)
MIN-BAL (F-Sa-Su)
TOR-BOS (F-Sa(DH)-Su)
TB-NYY (F-Sa-Su)
DET-CHW (F-Sa-Su)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
FLA-PHI (M-Tu-W)
PIT-HOU (M-Tu-W-Th)
CIN-MIL (M-Tu-W)
LAD-SD (M-Tu-W)
ARZ-SF (M-Tu-W)
WSH-NYM (Tu-W)
CHC-STL (Tu-W-Th)
MIL-PHI (Th-F-Sa-Su)
STL-PIT (F-Sa-Su)
ATL-NYM (F-Sa-Su)
CHC-HOU (F-Sa-Su)
LAD-COL (F-Sa-Su)
CIN-ARZ (F-Sa-Su)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
TB-BOS (M-Tu-W)
TOR-CHW (M-Tu-W-Th)
NYY-LAA (M-Tu-W)
KC-MIN (Tu-W-Th)
MIN-BAL (F-Sa-Su)
TOR-BOS (F-Sa(DH)-Su)
TB-NYY (F-Sa-Su)
DET-CHW (F-Sa-Su)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
FLA-PHI (M-Tu-W)
PIT-HOU (M-Tu-W-Th)
CIN-MIL (M-Tu-W)
LAD-SD (M-Tu-W)
ARZ-SF (M-Tu-W)
WSH-NYM (Tu-W)
CHC-STL (Tu-W-Th)
MIL-PHI (Th-F-Sa-Su)
STL-PIT (F-Sa-Su)
ATL-NYM (F-Sa-Su)
CHC-HOU (F-Sa-Su)
LAD-COL (F-Sa-Su)
CIN-ARZ (F-Sa-Su)
Hard to believe it will have been three straight years Atlanta's not in the playoffs after their long streak.
The bad times of the 70s and 80s are back in Not-so-Hotlanta.
At least the Falcons have something to build on.
The bad times of the 70s and 80s are back in Not-so-Hotlanta.
At least the Falcons have something to build on.
The Red Sox beat the Rays, 3-0 tonight. The Sox now trail the Rays by only a half game after trailing by 5.5 on Sept.1. Also, this is the closest the Red Sox have been to the division lead since July 23 (exactly one week before "The Trade"). Jon Lester (14-5) continued his great season by pitching 7 2/3 shutout innings. The Sox and Rays continue their three game series tomorrow and Wednesday, and then meet for three games next week at The Trop.
