Playoff Countdown

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:22 pm

(much funnier if read with a Howard Cosell voice)
We've got two weeks left in the season and the playoffs shake out thusly...
In the AL, Minnesota and Oakland have both clinched (or nearly clinched) playoff spots. Congrats to both of you. This is Andrew's second consecutive ALC title while Jake is making his first playoff appearance. Way to go Jake!

In the NL, St Louis was the first team to 100 wins and is close to clinching in the very competitive NL Central. After a one year hiatus in 2006, Aaron is making his third playoff appearance, his first as a Division champ. He's also got a great shot at home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Brandon Brown's Braves have clinched in the NL East for his first playoff appearance. Brandon has been discounted at times because his division isn't as competitive as some, but as we all know, anything can happen in the playoffs!
Over on the left coast, Shawn's Dodgers have a firm grip on the division. A six game lead with two weeks to go all but assures Shawn of his first playoff spot in his tenure, the product of a long and methodical building process.
The Wild card looks like it will go to the Cincinnati Reds. Nate Hunter's Reds have suffered many an indignity due to injury through his years in the iBC, but he is finally making his second appearance in the playoffs, his second consecutive wild card title.

The only races which remain largely undecided are in the AL East, where three teams have been battling it out for first place and the wild card, for many months. To make it even better, all three teams play each other over the course of this weekend and next weeks. NY @ Bos this weekend. Bos @ Tor this week and NY @ Tor for three games this coming weekend.
The edge currently belong to the terrifying Torontonians, Pat Bishop's Bluejays who hold a two game lead over Boston and New York. Pat is a two time wild card winner, once as the Jays and previous to that, as the lowly Devilrays. He also has the luxury of hosting both his series against his two rivals.
JB's Yankees will have to go on the road to face Boston and Toronto, but otherwise have the easiest schedule remaining, facing the Orioles and Devilrays. JB has only missed the playoffs once, when he missed the wildcard by one game in 2002. A juggernaut, if ever there was one.
Boston has the toughest schedule by far remaining. While three games remain against the Devil Rays, Boston also has to face Toronto, Minnesota and the Oakland A's, closing out the last 2 weeks by playing every playoff contender in the American League. It will be an uphill battle for sure for the Red Sox to get to their fourth playoff spot in their six years in the league.
Who will come out on top and who will come up short? Find out in Two Weeks!

Orioles · Post by **Orioles** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:30 pm

Toronto owns me. I'm .500 or better against every team in the league but Minnesota (3-4) and Toronto (3-10). Ouch.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:37 pm

I'll be rooting for you to finish the season on a 15 game winning streak!

Dodgers · Post by **Dodgers** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:43 am

RedSox wrote:I'll be rooting for you to finish the season on a 15 game winning streak!

At least we'll know it wasn't fixed.

Mets · Post by **Mets** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:18 am

Even though I have six games left against the Dodgers, losing my #1 & #2 pitchers (Jennings & Sampson) has all but assured me that there will be no post season in Denver.

I guess a 87 win season is still an improvement over what this team was when I took it over.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:25 am

Rockies wrote:I guess a 87 win season is still an improvement over what this team was when I took it over.

To say the least!