With Football of all sorts back in the fold Baseball has taken a backseat to the casual fan. I can’t lie football is my favorite sport to watch. The marathon that we know as the MLB baseball season is close to the end. Some people are happy some are sad with 5 games left in the season.
This year is the first year the powers that be have allowed two wildcard teams into the playoffs lets look into each league in see who still has a legitimate shot to sneak into the postseason.
As of the morning of 9/29/12
NL Teams:
Atlanta Braves, (91-66) – The Braves are locked in so it is really just a 3 team race for the last spot. Who will they play in the one game playoff?
St. Louis Cardinals, (85-72) – The Cards are a team who I don’t think anybody in the NL wants to make the post season (especially Reds fans*points to self). A team who dealt with the loss of Albert Pujols better than anyone could have expected. They currently have a 3 game lead over the Dodgers with 5 games left. This team has a very explosive offense 2nd most runs scored in the NL behind the Brewers.
Los Angeles Dodgers, (82-75) – The Dodgers are holding on for dear life with 5 games left they are 3 games behind the Cardinals. Money can’t buy you happiness I guess. They are still a threat to make it the post season will their big name acquisitions be enough to pull it off? As a Reds fan I rather see them make it. Go Dodgers!!!
Milwaukee Brewers, (80-77) – The heavy hitting Brewers are 5 games out with 5 games left they could possibly be mathematically eliminated at the end of gameplay today. After trading their ace who would have thought they would have been able to even come close to making this run. The light is very dim in the basement but I salute the team’s effort.
Note: In every situation in the NL no team will have a chance to win their division all divisions have been clinched. *Nationals, Reds and Giants.
AL Teams:
Baltimore Orioles, (90-67) – The Orioles are this year’s Cinderella team; nobody thought they would have a chance at the beginning of the season. OF Adam Jones not Pac-Man has played at an MVP level all year and should be seriously considered for the award. They are atop the wildcard right now and only one game behind the Yankees for the AL East division lead. Will they knock the Yankees off the throne or will they seal the wildcard? Either way fans in Baltimore will do back flips if their team makes the postseason for the 1st time in years.
Oakland Athletics, (89-68) – This team has the lowest payroll in baseball. This is purely amazing that the lowest payroll has a shot to make the post season. As of now they are the 2nd wildcard team. I can’t even name a player on this team shame on me. They still have a shot to win the AL West as they are only 3 games back of the Rangers. With 5 games left the A’s are 2 games ahead of the Angels and 3 games ahead of the Rays. Will they be able to hold them off?
Los Angeles Angels, (87-70) – After the great off-season the Angels had nobody thought they would be in this position right now. With 5 games left the Angels are 2 games out of the wildcard and 5 games behind the division leading Rangers. Will they be able to sneak into the post season? It shows off-season doesn’t guarantee in season success. On paper they have one of the best teams money can buy.
Tampa Bay Rays, (86-71) – The Rays have been flying under the radar all year in my opinion. In a highly competitive division they are still alive. They are only 3 games back of the final wildcard position with 5 to play. They currently are playing the tailing White Sox who are also fighting for their post season lives right now.
Note: The AL East and West have not been clinched yet. Some teams in the wildcard race still have a shot to win the Division mathematically.
Note: The AL Central is a two team race between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox whichever teams wins the division the win make the playoffs. The team that doesn’t
