Down the Line And Into The Corner: Looking at the September Playoff Races
I did this last year on a weekly basis so I thought maybe doing it again would be fun. Just looking at all the playoff races to take a peek at who's in, who's out, what's still up for grabs, who's out of it. I think September is a good time to start because that's when the Magic Number is huge. However before I begin, I am going to now take you all down with me after seeing this certain image. I thought the media outlets were over this whole manager!shipping phase and while I apologize for any nightmares, I do not apologize for showing this photo because I'm taking you all down with me! :P But anyways, now onto more important things -- the PLAYOFF RACES *DUN DUN DUNNNNN*
The way I write it up is TEAM NAME -- GAMES BACK -- ELIMINATION NUMBER
AL East
New York Yankees -- X -- X
Boston Red Sox -- 6.5 GB -- 25
Tampa Bay Rays -- 12.5 GB -- 19
Toronto Blue Jays -- 24.5 GB -- 7
Baltimore Orioles -- 30.5 GB -- E
Analysis: Baltimore is officially eliminated from this race while Toronto is hanging by a thread. Tampa and Boston are still in the chase but it's more likely that the Yankees have this wrapped up. I don't see how they don't wrap this up. Their schedule is pretty easy with the only real obstacles being Boston, LA, and Tampa. Tampa is fading a little bit and traded away Kazmir (confusing the shit out of everybody around them) but basically it's a return to the playoffs for the Yankees one way or another.
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AL Central
Detroit -- X -- X
Minnesota -- 3.5 GB -- 28
Chicago -- 7.0 GB -- 24
Cleveland -- 12.0 GB -- 20
Kansas City -- 19.5 GB -- 12
Analysis: Once again, the Twins are in it. Dunno how the fuck it happens, but it happens. Then again, Joe Mauer is basically the MVP of life right now so yep. Kansas City is like a year away from being crazy good or so. Greinke is the bonafide Cy Young winner this season. The Tigers got some threats from Minnesota and face them twice more over the season which will prove to be big series'. Chicago...oh Chicago. They seem like they've given up and sold off half their team or some shit. Cleveland is a lot closer than they were earlier on, so there's some points there. Basically this will end up being between Detroit and Minnesota.
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AL West
Los Angeles -- X -- X
Texas -- 4.5 GB -- 27
Seattle -- 10.0 GB -- 21
Oakland -- 20.5 GB -- 11
Analysis: Oakland looks like they're all but done but they still have that glimmer of hope. Seattle has done respectably well but 10 games is a lot to make up. Texas is a lot closer than I originally thought. Los Angeles faces Texas twice more during the season which could prove to be a big difference maker. This is basically Los Angeles' to win, but nothing is certain.
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NL East
Philadelphia -- X -- X
Atlanta -- 7.5 GB -- 25
Florida -- 9.5 GB -- 23
New York -- 18.5 GB -- 14
Washington -- 32.0 GB -- E
Analysis: Of course, Natstown is eliminated early on. New York is out of it basically. That team....*shakes head* I read a Fark headline about how the Mets are like now a pandemic due to their constant injuries of everybody. Florida has slipped and fell pretty hard but there's still a chance there however slight. The Phillies face Florida at the very end of the season and Atlanta in late September. There's still hope for Atlanta and Florida, but not a lot.
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NL Central
St. Louis -- X -- X
Chicago -- 10.5 GB -- 21
Milwaukee -- 13.0 GB -- 18
Houston -- 14.5 GB -- 16
Cincinnati -- 18.5 GB -- 12
Pittsburgh -- 24.0 GB -- 7
Analysis: Yeah, I think St. Louis is all but set here. Chicago could make an interesting comeback, but I doubt it. Milwaukee fell off the table kinda quick and Houston is doing better than I thought. Cincy and Pittsburgh though....*shakes head*
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NL West
Los Angeles -- X -- X
Colorado -- 5.5 GB -- 25
San Francisco -- 6.5 GB -- 24
Arizona -- 19.0 GB -- 11
San Diego -- 21.5 GB -- 8
Analysis: Los Angeles has some threats from Colorado and San Francisco but save for 2 series vs San Fran in September and a series vs Colorado to end the season, they have the most recockulously easy teams to face. It's almost unfair. They got San Diego and Pittsburgh twice! Not to mention Arizona twice and the Natinals. Colorado has a very easy schedule too. San Fran has a few roadbumps along the way but those roadbumps could be enough to make them lose their way which is not a good thing.
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AL Wild Card
Boston -- X -- X
Texas -- 3.5 GB -- 28
Tampa Bay -- 6.0 GB -- 26
Seattle -- 9.0 GB -- 22
Minnesota -- 10.5 GB -- 21
Chicago -- 14.0 GB -- 17
Toronto -- 18.0 GB -- 14
Cleveland -- 19.0 GB -- 13
Oakland -- 19.5 GB -- 12
Baltimore -- 24.0 GB -- 7
Kansas City -- 26.5 -- 5
Analysis: Boston may lead this but Texas and Tampa are still kinda threatening a little. Seattle and Minnesota are dark horse candidates. They can try to take care of business with Tampa, but they need to rely on others for Texas. Minnesota is probably more focused on the division and Seattle probably isn't too sure WTF to do. Kansas City and Baltimore are all but eliminated while Oakland, Cleveland, Toronto, and Chicago are pretty much hanging by a thread. It'll be interesting to see how this all pans out.
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NL Wild Card
Colorado -- X -- X
San Francisco -- 1.0 GB -- 30
Atlanta -- 3.0 GB -- 28
Florida -- 5.0 GB -- 26
Chicago -- 6.0 GB -- 26
Milwaukee -- 8.5 GB -- 23
Houston -- 10.0 GB -- 21
Arizona -- 13.5 GB -- 17
Cincinnati -- 14.0 GB -- 17
New York -- 14.0 GB -- 17
San Diego -- 16.0 GB -- 14
Pittsburgh -- 19.5 GB -- 12
Washington -- 27.5 GB -- 3
Analysis: Now THIS is a playoff race! Colorado may be leading but San Fran, Atlanta, Florida, and Chicago are still right in there. Especially San Fran. Milwaukee and Houston could serve as interesting dark horse candidates while Arizona, Cincy, New York, and San Diego are hanging by a thread. Pittsburgh and Washington are pretty much out of it with Washington only hanging by a mere thread. This will be an interesting one to watch unfold.
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Here's the Layman's Terms
Basically They're In
New York Yankees
St Louis Cardinals
Philadelphia Phillies
Los Angeles Dodgers
In the Thick of Things
Boston Red Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
Texas Rangers
Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins
Colorado Rockies
Florida Marlins
Atlanta Braves
San Francisco Giants
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Sox
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Dark Horse Candidates
Seattle Mariners
Houston Astros
Milwaukee Brewers
Not Looking Good
Arizona Diamondbacks
Toronto Blue Jays
Cincinnati Reds
New York Mets
San Diego Padres
Oakland A's
Cleveland Indians
Pittsburgh Pirates
Hanging By a Thread
Baltimore Orioles
Kansas City Royals
Washington Nationals
The way I write it up is TEAM NAME -- GAMES BACK -- ELIMINATION NUMBER
AL East
New York Yankees -- X -- X
Boston Red Sox -- 6.5 GB -- 25
Tampa Bay Rays -- 12.5 GB -- 19
Toronto Blue Jays -- 24.5 GB -- 7
Baltimore Orioles -- 30.5 GB -- E
Analysis: Baltimore is officially eliminated from this race while Toronto is hanging by a thread. Tampa and Boston are still in the chase but it's more likely that the Yankees have this wrapped up. I don't see how they don't wrap this up. Their schedule is pretty easy with the only real obstacles being Boston, LA, and Tampa. Tampa is fading a little bit and traded away Kazmir (confusing the shit out of everybody around them) but basically it's a return to the playoffs for the Yankees one way or another.
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AL Central
Detroit -- X -- X
Minnesota -- 3.5 GB -- 28
Chicago -- 7.0 GB -- 24
Cleveland -- 12.0 GB -- 20
Kansas City -- 19.5 GB -- 12
Analysis: Once again, the Twins are in it. Dunno how the fuck it happens, but it happens. Then again, Joe Mauer is basically the MVP of life right now so yep. Kansas City is like a year away from being crazy good or so. Greinke is the bonafide Cy Young winner this season. The Tigers got some threats from Minnesota and face them twice more over the season which will prove to be big series'. Chicago...oh Chicago. They seem like they've given up and sold off half their team or some shit. Cleveland is a lot closer than they were earlier on, so there's some points there. Basically this will end up being between Detroit and Minnesota.
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AL West
Los Angeles -- X -- X
Texas -- 4.5 GB -- 27
Seattle -- 10.0 GB -- 21
Oakland -- 20.5 GB -- 11
Analysis: Oakland looks like they're all but done but they still have that glimmer of hope. Seattle has done respectably well but 10 games is a lot to make up. Texas is a lot closer than I originally thought. Los Angeles faces Texas twice more during the season which could prove to be a big difference maker. This is basically Los Angeles' to win, but nothing is certain.
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NL East
Philadelphia -- X -- X
Atlanta -- 7.5 GB -- 25
Florida -- 9.5 GB -- 23
New York -- 18.5 GB -- 14
Washington -- 32.0 GB -- E
Analysis: Of course, Natstown is eliminated early on. New York is out of it basically. That team....*shakes head* I read a Fark headline about how the Mets are like now a pandemic due to their constant injuries of everybody. Florida has slipped and fell pretty hard but there's still a chance there however slight. The Phillies face Florida at the very end of the season and Atlanta in late September. There's still hope for Atlanta and Florida, but not a lot.
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NL Central
St. Louis -- X -- X
Chicago -- 10.5 GB -- 21
Milwaukee -- 13.0 GB -- 18
Houston -- 14.5 GB -- 16
Cincinnati -- 18.5 GB -- 12
Pittsburgh -- 24.0 GB -- 7
Analysis: Yeah, I think St. Louis is all but set here. Chicago could make an interesting comeback, but I doubt it. Milwaukee fell off the table kinda quick and Houston is doing better than I thought. Cincy and Pittsburgh though....*shakes head*
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NL West
Los Angeles -- X -- X
Colorado -- 5.5 GB -- 25
San Francisco -- 6.5 GB -- 24
Arizona -- 19.0 GB -- 11
San Diego -- 21.5 GB -- 8
Analysis: Los Angeles has some threats from Colorado and San Francisco but save for 2 series vs San Fran in September and a series vs Colorado to end the season, they have the most recockulously easy teams to face. It's almost unfair. They got San Diego and Pittsburgh twice! Not to mention Arizona twice and the Natinals. Colorado has a very easy schedule too. San Fran has a few roadbumps along the way but those roadbumps could be enough to make them lose their way which is not a good thing.
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AL Wild Card
Boston -- X -- X
Texas -- 3.5 GB -- 28
Tampa Bay -- 6.0 GB -- 26
Seattle -- 9.0 GB -- 22
Minnesota -- 10.5 GB -- 21
Chicago -- 14.0 GB -- 17
Toronto -- 18.0 GB -- 14
Cleveland -- 19.0 GB -- 13
Oakland -- 19.5 GB -- 12
Baltimore -- 24.0 GB -- 7
Kansas City -- 26.5 -- 5
Analysis: Boston may lead this but Texas and Tampa are still kinda threatening a little. Seattle and Minnesota are dark horse candidates. They can try to take care of business with Tampa, but they need to rely on others for Texas. Minnesota is probably more focused on the division and Seattle probably isn't too sure WTF to do. Kansas City and Baltimore are all but eliminated while Oakland, Cleveland, Toronto, and Chicago are pretty much hanging by a thread. It'll be interesting to see how this all pans out.
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NL Wild Card
Colorado -- X -- X
San Francisco -- 1.0 GB -- 30
Atlanta -- 3.0 GB -- 28
Florida -- 5.0 GB -- 26
Chicago -- 6.0 GB -- 26
Milwaukee -- 8.5 GB -- 23
Houston -- 10.0 GB -- 21
Arizona -- 13.5 GB -- 17
Cincinnati -- 14.0 GB -- 17
New York -- 14.0 GB -- 17
San Diego -- 16.0 GB -- 14
Pittsburgh -- 19.5 GB -- 12
Washington -- 27.5 GB -- 3
Analysis: Now THIS is a playoff race! Colorado may be leading but San Fran, Atlanta, Florida, and Chicago are still right in there. Especially San Fran. Milwaukee and Houston could serve as interesting dark horse candidates while Arizona, Cincy, New York, and San Diego are hanging by a thread. Pittsburgh and Washington are pretty much out of it with Washington only hanging by a mere thread. This will be an interesting one to watch unfold.
================================
Here's the Layman's Terms
Basically They're In
New York Yankees
St Louis Cardinals
Philadelphia Phillies
Los Angeles Dodgers
In the Thick of Things
Boston Red Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
Texas Rangers
Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins
Colorado Rockies
Florida Marlins
Atlanta Braves
San Francisco Giants
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Sox
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Dark Horse Candidates
Seattle Mariners
Houston Astros
Milwaukee Brewers
Not Looking Good
Arizona Diamondbacks
Toronto Blue Jays
Cincinnati Reds
New York Mets
San Diego Padres
Oakland A's
Cleveland Indians
Pittsburgh Pirates
Hanging By a Thread
Baltimore Orioles
Kansas City Royals
Washington Nationals