Baseball/playoff races
 

Twins are now only 1/2 game out of first place. Be interesting to see who wins the division.
Phillies now trail the Dodgers by one game and the Padres by 1 1/2 games for the wildcard(padres have a 1/2 game lead in the division but still have to be considered as one of three teams looking to get a playoff spot).
Thats about the only real drama left this year in a baseball season that has seemed over for a month now.

I would really like to see the Twins get the division so they would have to play the A's in the first round and the Yankees would get the Tigers.
In the NL, I cant see what difference it makes with who gets the NL West between the Pads and Dodgers. The loser will win the wildcard, I am convinced. Phillies will crack like cheap paint.

Cant wait for the Playoffs to begin.

tim - nyc is starting to feel alive - like 2000 - could be a subway series

could be a subway series

I honestly wouldnt watch a single pitch. The last time was awfully boring.

Gander,as far as who wins the NL West goes,it makes a big difference.The Dodgers can't hit good pitching on the road.That is exactly why they struggle against St.Louis.They were competitive in 3 out of the 4 games AGAINST THE METS a couple weeks ago(and took 2 out of the 4 games.)They would have a chance against the Mets,but virtually no shot against the Cards.Dodgers bullpen is struggling (middle relief) now.Tomko has blown games in 4 of the last 5 games that Grady has been dumb enough to use him in.Tomko got into trouble Monday Night against the Padres,and made decent pitches to get out of it.Should have gone out on a high note,and retired that night.The guy is a joke.BTW,the Padres are too good to miss the post.Phils or Dodgers will stay home.I am going to the stadium tonight.Hope Maddux can stop a carefree Pirates team.

Tigers played the Yanks reasonably tough in the series earlier this month in NYC.

I still expect them to fold though. The Tigers wouldn't have it any other way. I can't expect their first winning record since 1993 to result in a playoff appearance.

Slot- The Tigers are in. They probably will blow the division but the wildcard is their fall back. Its too late for the White Sox. Although they spanked you guys yesterday, they would have to run the table to have a chance and have a total Detroit collapse. Congrats, its always nice when your team is in the post. Now go out and make the majority of baseball fans happy and take out NY in the 1st round.

Scuds- Have a good time at Chavez Ravine. I always liked that venue for baseball. Lets get er done so I can have a team to root for in the post!

I won't believe the Tigers are in the postseason until they don't blow a five game lead with 11 to play. You don't know what it's like to root for the Tigers and Lions every year. And the University of Michigan. It's painful.

LOL! Try being a die hard Red Sox fan since birth. Suffered through the 1975 and 1986 heartbreaks and many losing years between and after. None more painful than losing game 7 to the Yankees in 2003. Try having a rival like the NY Yankees, good grief!

I don't think it would be boring this time!

Tim the Tigers will win the divison. They have a cakewalk schedule coming home.
Playoffs will be Yanks opening at home agaisnt the Twins, and Tigers opening at home against the A's.

In the NL I see the Mets opening agaisnt the Padre's and I will call the Cardinals opening against the Phillies.

Better this time
 

The METS match up much better this time than in 2000. Both their weakness are their starting pitching. I WOULD LOVE a Subway Series!:p

Pirates handling teh Dodgers again. Top of the 7th - 6 - 2 Buccos

Gander,
I'm with you. I'm rootin for the Twins to win the divi so they're not in the Bronx to start the playoffs.

As far as a subway series is concerned, I think there's a really good chance it's gonna happen (not really going out on a limb there lol). But! The Mets will be no pushover. If Pedro is healthy, The Mets are gonna run Pedro, Glavine, and Duque out there. THAT WOULD BE THE BEST ROTATION IN THE PLAYOFFS IF THEY'RE ALL HEALTHY. If one of them is not, Trachsel makes a nice replacement for game 3 in any series.

As far as my Twinkies go... Johan can do his part, but Bonser? Silva? Garza? No way... they're unfortunately gonna fall down to earth against the Skankees.

Dodgers go down 6-4.Had bases loaded in the 9th,but Kemp struck out(normal,)and then Kent struck out to end the game(painful.)Saw it all live at D Stadium.Their closer pegged Furcal really hard(thigh maybe.)Pretty ugly.Had to be a fastball that was really smoking.Ralphy be sore in the morning.Again ,this guy was the Dodger's best player on the night(with a single,a hit by a pitch,and a beautiful hustling triple.) Maddux was not sharp(only went a bumpy 5 innings.)Obviously could have used a 5th day between starts(something he can't have because Hendrickson is too much of a piece of crap to start games.) This has a TRICKLE DOWN effect,because if Maddux n' others can't go a strong 7,then we have to use middle relief that has been crap,mo crap,and mo better crap.With the bullpen letting us down almost every night,it really makes little difference if we make the post(we will get hit hard in the post.)To be honest,coming back on the Padres was like winning the World Series for us.You would have to live in SoCal to understand that(PAD FANS AND DODGER FANS BASICALLY HATE EACH OTHER.)No way in Hell it was gunna be a comfortable Winter knowing that the Pads beat us 3 out of 4 at home in September(and 3 in a row going into the Winter.)

btw 4 hot dogs=$18
parking $10
peanuts $4.50(same as a hot dog)
On the positive side,Dodger Stadium is still a beautiful place.About 45 years old,and nobody would even think of tearing that beauty down. Most places that age are gone,or people can't wait to get the chance to make them be gone.For instance,Shea Stadium was open in '64,and is going bye bye soon.

Gander I really like the Phillies coming home.
They are now tied with the Dodgers and a half game behind the Pads.

Gander, what have you got against my Phillies?
we haven't made the playoffs in forever
and last year we finsihed 1 game out of it
behind the Astros
if it happens again, it would be pretty devastating
I'm trying not to get my hopes too high
because after 162 games to come 1 short
you think about all those 1 run games throughout the year
(and believe me they lost a lot of those early)
so hopefully we can edge out on of the west coast teams
and maybe do some damage in the post-season

I guess it was all those years watching Larry Bowa as a manager. Never really cared for his tirades. That and I like the Dodgers, always have since the late 70's. But if your Phillies make it I will be the first to congratulate them as I did the Yankees and Mets. Good luck! Tied with 11 games to go, none of which with LA or San Diego.