Baseball

[smc]

On August 7, I posted my predictions for the six Major League divisions. Now, 5 weeks later, and with the regular season quickly drawing to a close, it's time to face the music and see where things stand. Of course, things can and will still change in some divisions.

Here's what I predicted then. Let's start with the National League:

Originally Posted by smc

National League: East winner: Atlanta; Central winner: Cincinnati; West winner: San Francisco; Wild Card winner: San Diego.

Here are where things stand as of this writing, mid-afternoon on September 15. The Braves continue their skid, having lost this afternoon to the lowly Capitals. That means that Philadelphia is now 2-1/2 games ahead in the East. Meanwhile, the Giants are behind the Braves in the Wild Card Race, but only by 1 game, with San Diego having taken the lead in the West by 1-1-/2 games (and is tied with the Rockies in the 3rd inning of today's game, as I write). The Central Division is shaping up exactly as I predicted, and the Reds have a comfortable 7-game lead.

My revised predictions for the National League: East winner: Philadelphia (a change); Central winner: Cincinnati (unchanged); West winner: San Diego; Wild Card winner: San Francisco.

Hence, the only change in the list of four teams making it to the playoffs is to replace the Braves with the Phillies. If I am correct, I suspect Transjen will be pleased.

Here's what I predicted for the American League back on August 7:

Originally Posted by smc

American League: East winner: Tampa Bay; Central winner: Minnesota; West winner: Texas; Wild Card winner: Boston.

My prediction that Boston would take the Wild Card was predicated on two things. One was that the Yankees would have to have at least one period of extended under-.500 ball, since they had not to that date. Prior to last night's game, the Yankees had lost four in a row, the longest losing streak of the season for the Bronx Bombers. That came to an end in 10 innings last night. The other thing was a return to relative health for the Red Sox. Dustin Pedroia, so crucial to the Red Sox lineup, did return, only to go back on the disabled list after a couple of games. No team can endure the kinds of injuries the Sox have grappled with this season and play consisitently great ball, and yet the Sox stand at 17 games over .500. The Sox have used well more than 100 outfield lineups this season in 125 games -- just one example of the team's challenges.

I have to admit that the Sox playoff hopes are essentially non-existent. However, there is one hope: the Rays and the Yankees play each other several more times. If one of those two teams can win all the rest of the games, thus dropping the other team down in the standings consistently, and the Red Sox can play .750 ball between now and the end of the month, the Sox will sneak in. I will not make that prediction, however.

In the Central and West divisions, my predictions hold firm. Minnesota is 7 games ahead of the White Sox, and Texas is 9 games ahead of Oakland. As is always the case in the American League, the Wild Card will come from the East. Here are my revised predictions:

American League: East winner: Tampa Bay (unchanged); Central winner: Minnesota (unchanged); West winner: Texas (unchanged); Wild Card winner: New York (a change).

It won't be long before we can wrap up this baseball season and turn to hockey! Go Bruins! You have an epic choke to erase from our minds!

[transjen]

The 2010 World Series will be Phillies vs Rangers
With the Phillies winning in 7
Philliefan Jen

[transjen]

My vote for the Hall of Fame class of 2011
Philliefan Jen

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

My vote for the Hall of Fame class of 2011
Philliefan Jen

That's just mean, Jen. Not what I would expect from you.

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

That's just mean, Jen. Not what I would expect from you.

Why is that mean? he was a key member of the Yankees for a long time and everyone loves good old Bucky he's a lot like Ron Santo two overlooked players who should be in the hall along with

Philliefan Jen

[dauls]

Originally Posted by transjen

Why is that mean? he was a key member of the Yankees for a long time and everyone loves good old Bucky he's a lot like Ron Santo two overlooked players who should be in the hall along with

Philliefan Jen

Jen, unless you were being

smc - baseball - Red Sox - blown 14.5 game lead - 1978 AL East tie-breaker game - Bucky Dent - 3-run homer - Damn Yankees win - smc very, very sad

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

Why is that mean? he was a key member of the Yankees for a long time and everyone loves good old Bucky he's a lot like Ron Santo two overlooked players who should be in the hall along with

Philliefan Jen

C'mon, Jen, you are enough of a baseball fan to know that Bucky Dent doesn't have anywhere near the statistics that make one even considered for the Hall of Fame, let alone inducted (even given the benefit of the doubt as a non-steroid user). And since I know you know he doesn't make the cut, I assumed this was a dig (perhaps unintentional) at my being a Red Sox fan and my most recent (posts). I apologize if I jumped to the wrong conclusion. In any case, Bucky Dent in any Hall of Fame other than a New York Yankees one (and even that would be only as a footnote for his Sox-crushing homer) is a non-starter.

[dauls]

Originally Posted by smc

C'mon, Jen, you are enough of a baseball fan to know that Bucky Dent doesn't have anywhere near the statistics that make one even considered for the Hall of Fame, let alone inducted (even given the benefit of the doubt as a non-steroid user). And since I know you know he doesn't make the cut, I assumed this was a dig (perhaps unintentional) at my being a Red Sox fan and my most recent (posts). I apologize if I jumped to the wrong conclusion. In any case, Bucky Dent in any Hall of Fame other than a New York Yankees one (and even that would be only as a footnote for his Sox-crushing homer) is a non-starter.

In Boston, I assume you continue to use the moniker "Fucky 'Bucking' Dent" or something similar.

[Slappy4011]

Originally Posted by transjen

The 2010 World Series will be Phillies vs Rangers
With the Phillies winning in 7
Philliefan Jen

I like what you think! Go Phillies!

[shadows]

Boston has not played very good ball since they were officially eliminated(and losing that game in extras after getting the go-ahead runs from Mariano Rivera was frustrating)!

They had a chance to win Game #1 of the double-header today but a boneheaded error in the top of the 10th inning sealed Boston's fate.

While I am not a Boston fan like smc is, I feel I can safely say that Paplebon has blown way too many games this season(here's a scary fact, Kevin Gregg who is the closer for my beloved Blue Jays, has a better ERA than Paplebon!).

Philly has all the momentum. I think they are going to win it all. I think the Yankees are going out in the first round, regardless of whether they play the Twins or Rangers.

[transjen]

Game one is in the books and it's time for the HAPPY DANCE as the Phillies beat the Reds
Philliefan Jen

[dauls]

Originally Posted by transjen

Game one is in the books and it's time for the HAPPY DANCE as the Phillies beat the Reds
Philliefan Jen

Great result and in the first postseason game of his career the Doc pitched his second no-hitter of the season.

[transjen]

At this moment i'm more jazzed about the win then the fact it was only the second no hitter in post season history the other was Larson's perftect game in the world series
Philliefan Jen