Down the Line and Into the Corner: A Look at MLB Playoff Races
We've had quite a week for changes in the playoff cases. Some teams are fading fast while others are making pushes. It'll be interesting to see how things change from here on out. I'm just gonna cut to the chase now. Oh and the line goes like this
Team...Games Back...Elimination Number...Change in Elimination Number
AL East
New York Yankees...X...X...X
Boston Red Sox...9.0 GB...16...-8
Tampa Bay Rays...16.5 GB...8...-11
Toronto Blue Jays...27.0 GB...E...-7
Baltimore Orioles...32.0 GB...E...-0
Analysis: This is the Yankees' division to lose. If they even lose this then it may surpass the 2007 Mets as the biggest choke in recent baseball history. It will just be...seriously. Nonetheless, don't be getting cocky Yankee fans. Anything still can happen though. The Red Sox and Tampa made some huge tumbles given that Tampa has done a poor job vs the Yankees and the Red Sox lost 3-4 to the White Sox. Red Sox just aren't taking advantage of the competition and the Rays are just having the "year after" syndrome that a lot of teams that reach the World Series CAN get. Not always but it happens. Toronto bowed out of the AL East race while Baltimore remained eliminated. Baltimore is getting there while Toronto has some interesting pieces on the table. Though I think next season, we'll see Baltimore surpass Toronto (sorry Jays fans :( I know)
AL Central
Detroit Tigers...X...X...X
Minnesota Twins...6.5 GB...20...-8
Chicago White Sox...7.5 GB...18...-6
Cleveland Indians...15.0 GB...12...-8
Kansas City Royals...23.5 GB...3...-9
Analysis: Detroit is separating themselves more from the other teams and looking to pull away with this division. Kansas City is 3 games at the most, 2 games at the least away from being eliminated from here. Cleveland is hanging on barely while Minnesota has fallen back significantly. Chicago doesn't have that much of a fallback, however due to winning 3-4 vs the Red Sox but it's still remained to be seen if they can build off of that.
AL West
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...X...X...X
Texas Rangers...5.0 GB...22...-5
Seattle Mariners...10.0 GB...16...-5
Oakland Athletics...20.5 GB...6...-5
Analysis: Across the board, the AL West teams have only fallen back 5 games. Not sure what's up with Anaheim but it looks like the Rangers are trying to gun for the division. Would be nice to see someone who is NOT the Angels make it in the AL West (I'd say that it'd be nice to see Texas in teh Wild Card but the Red Sox are there. So I gotta get with the team loyalty thing, though if they lose to Texas(as long as it's not on a bullshittery) I'll be okay with it)
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies...X...X...X
Florida Marlins...6.0 GB...21...-2
Atlanta Braves...8.0 GB...19...-6
New York Mets...16.0 GB...11...-3
Washington Nationals...31.0 GB...E...-0
Analysis: Florida is REALLY making a push for it. They only lost 2 games in the Elimination number column and the Astros swept the Phillies which played a big role in the lack of big tumbles. Washington, as per usual, is eliminated and the Mets are hanging tough but nobody really expects them to get anywhere. Philly needs to get their asses in gear in order to keep a hold of their division. Florida just needs to keep doing what they can to help their cause too.
NL Central
St. Louis Cardinals...X...X...X
Chicago Cubs...11.5 GB...14...-7
Houston Astros...14.0 GB...11...-5
Milwaukee Brewers...15.0 GB...10...-8
Cincinnati Reds...18.0 GB...7...-5
Pittsburgh Pirates...26.5 GB...E...-7
Analysis: This will be a battle of who'll clinch first between New York and St Louis. Both are surefire playoff teams one way or another. Pittsburgh bows out of the race while the other four teams are just kind of hanging tough in there. Not sure what to make of them, but who knows.
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers...X...X...X
Colorado Rockies...3.5 GB...21...-4
San Francisco Giants...5.5 GB...19...-5
Arizona Diamondbacks...21.0 GB...3...-8
San Diego Padres...21.0 GB...3...-5
Analysis: Colorado is still hanging tough. San Francisco is falling back slightly. However, Los Angeles has the easier schedule of the three in contention. San Francisco has the tougher of them all as well. This really could end up being anybody's division. It all depends on how the breaks fall for the three teams.
AL Wild Card
Boston Red Sox...X...X...X
Texas Rangers...2.5 GB...24...-4
Seattle Mariners...7.5 GB...18...-4
Tampa Bay Rays...7.5 GB...18...-8
Minnesota Twins...10.0 GB...16...-5
Chicago White Sox...11.0 GB...14...-3
Oakland Athletics...18.0 GB...8...-4
Toronto Blue Jays...18.0 GB...8...-6
Cleveland Indians...18.5 GB...8...-5
Baltimore Orioles...23.0 GB...3...-4
Kansas City Royals...27.0 GB...E...-5
Analysis: Boston hasn't done too well lately. Lost 3-4 to the White Sox which explains why not so much drop back. Tampa has the biggest tumble while Chicago remained mostly unshaken. It looks like this is basically between Texas and Boston and since the two don't face each other anymore during the season, it's all hinging on how they do against other teams. Tampa Bay isn't exactly out of it yet since they still have 3 against the Red Sox.
NL Wild Card
Colorado Rockies...X...X...X
San Francisco Giants...2.0 GB...23...-7
Florida Marlins...5.5 GB...20...-4
Atlanta Braves...7.5 GB...18...-10
Chicago Cubs...8.0 GB...18...-8
Houston Astros...10.5 GB...15...-6
Milwaukee Brewers...11.5 GB...14...-9
Cincinnati Reds...14.5 GB...11...-6
New York Mets...15.5 GB...10...-7
Arizona Diamondbacks...17.5 GB...7...-10
San Diego Padres...17.5 GB...7...-7
Pittsburgh Pirates...23.0 GB...3...-9
Washington Nationals...30.5 GB...E...-3
Analysis: Washington Nationals are the first team officially eliminated from the playoffs chase. They thank you for your patients. Arizona and Atlanta made huge tumbles and Florida is standing their ground. San Francisco isn't exactly keeping pace with Colorado. This is going to be one of the better races to watch in the next few weeks. I wonder what'd happen if San Fran, Colorado, and Los Angeles all were tied. THREE WAY TIEBREAKER! :D Though I'm sure the nerves will kill everybody though TBS will be completely giddy like schoolgirls.
So anyways Layman's Terms Time!
Making Plans for Pregame Ceremonies
St Louis Cardinals
New York Yankees
In the Thick of Things
Boston Red Sox
Texas Rangers
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Dodgers
Colorado Rockies
San Francisco Giants
Florida Marlins
Philadelphia Phillies
Detroit Tigers
Dark Horse Candidates
Atlanta Braves
Seattle Mariners
Chicago White Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
Minnesota Twins
Chicago Cubs
In It Through Math Only
Milwaukee Brewers
Houston Astros
Cincinnati Reds
New York Mets
Hanging By a Thread
Oakland Athletics
Toronto Blue Jays
Cleveland Indians
San Diego Padres
Arizona Diamondbacks
Baltimore Orioles
Pittsburgh Pirates
Kansas City Royals
Officially Eliminated
Washington Nationals
So basically AL East and NL Central are sewn up, NL East, AL West, and AL Central are interesting but almost sewn up, and NL West, AL Wildcard, and NL Wildcard are anybody's game. What will the races be like next week? We'll just hafta keep watching and find out.
Team...Games Back...Elimination Number...Change in Elimination Number
AL East
New York Yankees...X...X...X
Boston Red Sox...9.0 GB...16...-8
Tampa Bay Rays...16.5 GB...8...-11
Toronto Blue Jays...27.0 GB...E...-7
Baltimore Orioles...32.0 GB...E...-0
Analysis: This is the Yankees' division to lose. If they even lose this then it may surpass the 2007 Mets as the biggest choke in recent baseball history. It will just be...seriously. Nonetheless, don't be getting cocky Yankee fans. Anything still can happen though. The Red Sox and Tampa made some huge tumbles given that Tampa has done a poor job vs the Yankees and the Red Sox lost 3-4 to the White Sox. Red Sox just aren't taking advantage of the competition and the Rays are just having the "year after" syndrome that a lot of teams that reach the World Series CAN get. Not always but it happens. Toronto bowed out of the AL East race while Baltimore remained eliminated. Baltimore is getting there while Toronto has some interesting pieces on the table. Though I think next season, we'll see Baltimore surpass Toronto (sorry Jays fans :( I know)
AL Central
Detroit Tigers...X...X...X
Minnesota Twins...6.5 GB...20...-8
Chicago White Sox...7.5 GB...18...-6
Cleveland Indians...15.0 GB...12...-8
Kansas City Royals...23.5 GB...3...-9
Analysis: Detroit is separating themselves more from the other teams and looking to pull away with this division. Kansas City is 3 games at the most, 2 games at the least away from being eliminated from here. Cleveland is hanging on barely while Minnesota has fallen back significantly. Chicago doesn't have that much of a fallback, however due to winning 3-4 vs the Red Sox but it's still remained to be seen if they can build off of that.
AL West
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...X...X...X
Texas Rangers...5.0 GB...22...-5
Seattle Mariners...10.0 GB...16...-5
Oakland Athletics...20.5 GB...6...-5
Analysis: Across the board, the AL West teams have only fallen back 5 games. Not sure what's up with Anaheim but it looks like the Rangers are trying to gun for the division. Would be nice to see someone who is NOT the Angels make it in the AL West (I'd say that it'd be nice to see Texas in teh Wild Card but the Red Sox are there. So I gotta get with the team loyalty thing, though if they lose to Texas(as long as it's not on a bullshittery) I'll be okay with it)
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies...X...X...X
Florida Marlins...6.0 GB...21...-2
Atlanta Braves...8.0 GB...19...-6
New York Mets...16.0 GB...11...-3
Washington Nationals...31.0 GB...E...-0
Analysis: Florida is REALLY making a push for it. They only lost 2 games in the Elimination number column and the Astros swept the Phillies which played a big role in the lack of big tumbles. Washington, as per usual, is eliminated and the Mets are hanging tough but nobody really expects them to get anywhere. Philly needs to get their asses in gear in order to keep a hold of their division. Florida just needs to keep doing what they can to help their cause too.
NL Central
St. Louis Cardinals...X...X...X
Chicago Cubs...11.5 GB...14...-7
Houston Astros...14.0 GB...11...-5
Milwaukee Brewers...15.0 GB...10...-8
Cincinnati Reds...18.0 GB...7...-5
Pittsburgh Pirates...26.5 GB...E...-7
Analysis: This will be a battle of who'll clinch first between New York and St Louis. Both are surefire playoff teams one way or another. Pittsburgh bows out of the race while the other four teams are just kind of hanging tough in there. Not sure what to make of them, but who knows.
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers...X...X...X
Colorado Rockies...3.5 GB...21...-4
San Francisco Giants...5.5 GB...19...-5
Arizona Diamondbacks...21.0 GB...3...-8
San Diego Padres...21.0 GB...3...-5
Analysis: Colorado is still hanging tough. San Francisco is falling back slightly. However, Los Angeles has the easier schedule of the three in contention. San Francisco has the tougher of them all as well. This really could end up being anybody's division. It all depends on how the breaks fall for the three teams.
AL Wild Card
Boston Red Sox...X...X...X
Texas Rangers...2.5 GB...24...-4
Seattle Mariners...7.5 GB...18...-4
Tampa Bay Rays...7.5 GB...18...-8
Minnesota Twins...10.0 GB...16...-5
Chicago White Sox...11.0 GB...14...-3
Oakland Athletics...18.0 GB...8...-4
Toronto Blue Jays...18.0 GB...8...-6
Cleveland Indians...18.5 GB...8...-5
Baltimore Orioles...23.0 GB...3...-4
Kansas City Royals...27.0 GB...E...-5
Analysis: Boston hasn't done too well lately. Lost 3-4 to the White Sox which explains why not so much drop back. Tampa has the biggest tumble while Chicago remained mostly unshaken. It looks like this is basically between Texas and Boston and since the two don't face each other anymore during the season, it's all hinging on how they do against other teams. Tampa Bay isn't exactly out of it yet since they still have 3 against the Red Sox.
NL Wild Card
Colorado Rockies...X...X...X
San Francisco Giants...2.0 GB...23...-7
Florida Marlins...5.5 GB...20...-4
Atlanta Braves...7.5 GB...18...-10
Chicago Cubs...8.0 GB...18...-8
Houston Astros...10.5 GB...15...-6
Milwaukee Brewers...11.5 GB...14...-9
Cincinnati Reds...14.5 GB...11...-6
New York Mets...15.5 GB...10...-7
Arizona Diamondbacks...17.5 GB...7...-10
San Diego Padres...17.5 GB...7...-7
Pittsburgh Pirates...23.0 GB...3...-9
Washington Nationals...30.5 GB...E...-3
Analysis: Washington Nationals are the first team officially eliminated from the playoffs chase. They thank you for your patients. Arizona and Atlanta made huge tumbles and Florida is standing their ground. San Francisco isn't exactly keeping pace with Colorado. This is going to be one of the better races to watch in the next few weeks. I wonder what'd happen if San Fran, Colorado, and Los Angeles all were tied. THREE WAY TIEBREAKER! :D Though I'm sure the nerves will kill everybody though TBS will be completely giddy like schoolgirls.
So anyways Layman's Terms Time!
Making Plans for Pregame Ceremonies
St Louis Cardinals
New York Yankees
In the Thick of Things
Boston Red Sox
Texas Rangers
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Dodgers
Colorado Rockies
San Francisco Giants
Florida Marlins
Philadelphia Phillies
Detroit Tigers
Dark Horse Candidates
Atlanta Braves
Seattle Mariners
Chicago White Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
Minnesota Twins
Chicago Cubs
In It Through Math Only
Milwaukee Brewers
Houston Astros
Cincinnati Reds
New York Mets
Hanging By a Thread
Oakland Athletics
Toronto Blue Jays
Cleveland Indians
San Diego Padres
Arizona Diamondbacks
Baltimore Orioles
Pittsburgh Pirates
Kansas City Royals
Officially Eliminated
Washington Nationals
So basically AL East and NL Central are sewn up, NL East, AL West, and AL Central are interesting but almost sewn up, and NL West, AL Wildcard, and NL Wildcard are anybody's game. What will the races be like next week? We'll just hafta keep watching and find out.